Medical device alarm method and system

ABSTRACT

Signal monitoring devices may connect to a host system for establishing the location of radios and other wireless communication devices within a facility and additionally aiding in the navigation of radios and wireless devices within the facility. The signal monitoring devices may be installed and integrated as components of a host facility system such as a fire alarm system, intrusion alarm system, surveillance system, access control system, internet access Wifi system, facility computer system, multiple line telephone system, SCADA system or other facility systems. A system may include a cell phone, handheld radio, wireless medical device, or other personal wireless devices that transmit special signals that are received by signal monitoring devices and/or perform two way data communications with a signal monitoring device. A system may include a processor that creates route and guidance information to guide a wireless device or a radio user to a destination within a facility.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to provisional U.S. PatentApplication No. 63/289,121, filed Dec. 13, 2021, titled “Augmented AlarmMethod and System,” which is incorporated herein by reference.

This patent application also incorporates by reference the followingapplications: provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/055,320, filedSep. 25, 2014; provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/138,824, filedMar. 26, 2015; non-provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/866,351, filed Sep. 25, 2015; provisional U.S. Patent Application No.63/244,048, filed Sep. 14, 2021; and non-provisional U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/930,884, filed Sep. 9, 2022.

BACKGROUND Field

One or more embodiments described below relate to emitter locationsystems and more particularly to cell telephone emitter location in anurban multipath environment.

BACKGROUND

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has described providingfirst responders with more precise locations for 911, 112, and otheremergency calls from cell telephones or equivalent mobile telephone orinternet calling devices in urban environments. In addition, there isboth a general desire for and an FCC requirement for the cell telephonenetwork within the United States to have the capability for preciselylocating a cell telephone from which an emergency or distress call isbeing made. The ability to precisely locate emergency or distress callsis intended to allow first-responders to quickly aid the person orpersons in distress even if they are not able to verbally communicatewith authorities during the distress call.

SUMMARY

This disclosure describes a system comprising wireless devices e.g.:cell phones, smart phones, portable radios and wireless medical devices,that may operate in concert with a plurality of signal monitoringdevices for the purpose of establishing the location of a wirelessdevice within a building or facility. In addition, this disclosuredescribes the operation of the signal monitoring devices in conjunctionwith their host system processor to create route and guidanceinformation for a wireless device user to utilize in navigating througha building or facility to a desired destination within the building orfacility. These signal monitoring devices are integral components of ahost building/facility system and in conjunction with the wirelessdevices, establish the location of said wireless devices within thebuilding/facility. In one embodiment the host system may be a buildingmonitoring system such as a SCADA, fire alarm, intrusion alarm, cardaccess, computer network, internet access, surveillance and/or any othertype building/facility system. The embodiment may comprise signalmonitoring devices with a physical configuration and form factor similarto addressable smoke detectors within an addressable fire alarm system.

The host building system may have a processing component that canprocess the present location of a cell phone, wireless device orportable radio user along with a designated second location. Thedesignated second location is a location to which the user wishes totravel, e.g. a cell phone or medical device user that is in distress.Alternatively, the designated second location may be the location ofanother wireless device user that has requested delivery of merchandisevia an m-commerce voice call or via the internet. These locations may beinside or immediately outside the building or facility. The processingmay derive a route (e.g., a preferred route) and create guidanceinformation for the cell phone, wireless device or portable radio userto travel to the second location. The user may use the route andguidance information to follow from their present location to reach theother user at the designated second location. The host building systemmay also have a communications system interface for communicatinglocation information to emergency responders and to m-commerce entities.The communications system and interface may include cellular andinternet capabilities.

For one embodiment, each wireless device operates in concert with one ormore signal monitoring devices by exchanging signals, generally RFsignals but acoustic signals may also be used. This signal exchangebetween each wireless device and the signal monitoring devices mayinclude: the identification of the wireless device and identification ofthe signal monitoring devices, signal metrics, location information androute and guidance information. For one embodiment, the locationinformation exchanged between each wireless device and the signalmonitoring devices may include location information for one or morenearby monitoring devices. For that embodiment, each wireless device maycalculate its own location based upon location information provided bythe one or more nearby monitoring devices.

The signals exchanged by the wireless devices and signal monitoringdevices may generally be in addition to the signals the wireless devicesexchange with their communications network such as a cellular network ora trunked radio system. For this reason, the signals are described as“special signals.” These signals exchanged are initiated, in oneembodiment, when the wireless device user is in distress. In this case,the signal exchange between a wireless device and the signal monitoringdevices may additionally be described as “distress signals.”

In another embodiment, these special signals exchanged may be initiatedwhen a wireless device user wishes to establish the user's locationwithin a building/facility in order to facilitate a commercialtransaction. This may include establishing the user's location in orderto facilitate a commercial delivery to the user's exact location. Inthis case the signals exchanged between a wireless device and the signalmonitoring devices may be alternatively described as “location requestsignals” and “route and guidance information signals.”

The distress signals, location request signals and route and guidancesignals may conform to the Bluetooth, Wifi or other RF or acousticsignal standards. The specific choice of signals to be used and thefrequencies of those signals and their encoding may be determined byFederal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and industrystandards.

Systems and methods described herein may be used for the locating ofwireless devices in urban buildings and facilities for the followingreasons. In outdoor and especially in open terrain, satellite basedGlobal Positioning System (GPS) signals may be used to locate a wirelessdevice user to within a few feet. In urban areas, however, particularlythose with high-rise buildings, GPS location technology may be seriouslydegraded and may not permit first responders to locate a call in theseareas and also may not permit a commercial delivery to an exactlocation. The impediment is the numerous reflections of the GPS signalsfrom the many tall buildings surrounding a caller. These reflected GPSsignals may arrive at any cell phone or other wireless device withdifferent time delays from the actual or theoretical line of sightsignals from the GPS satellites to the wireless device. Thesereflections provide deception for a cell phone attempting to calculateits location. While it may be possible to utilize GPS to locate a cellphone user on streets and other open spaces between buildings, GPSsignals are not reliable for locating a cell phone user located insidean urban building and facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a Cell Tower Sectors and AGC Emitter LocationTechnique;

FIG. 2 illustrates a Cell Tower Triangulation Emitter LocationTechnique;

FIG. 3A illustrates a Street Level GPS Location Problem;

FIG. 3B illustrates a Street Level Signal Propagation Problem;

FIG. 4 illustrates a Two Cell Tower TDOA Emitter Location Technique;

FIG. 5 illustrates a Three Cell Tower TDOA Emitter Location Technique;

FIG. 6 illustrates Internal Building Signal Propagation;

FIG. 7 illustrates a Fire Alarm System;

FIG. 8 illustrates a SCADA System;

FIG. 9 illustrates an RF Signal Monitoring Device;

FIG. 10A illustrates an Acoustic Signal Monitoring Device with ForwardLink Signal;

FIG. 10B illustrates an Acoustic Signal Monitoring Device;

FIG. 11 illustrates an Acoustic Signal Monitoring Device with wirelessmodem;

FIG. 12 illustrates an Acoustic Signal Monitoring Device with firedetector;

FIG. 13 illustrates a computing module.

FIG. 14 illustrates a Cell Phone with Special RF Signaling;

FIG. 15 illustrates a Cell Phone with Special Acoustic Signaling,

FIG. 16 illustrates a Flow Chart for the Operating Concept,

FIG. 17 illustrates a Flow Chart for a Special Signal Algorithm in oneembodiment;

FIG. 18 illustrates Handheld Radios using Signal Monitoring Devices inone embodiment,

FIG. 19 illustrates a Block Diagram for a Wireless Device System,

FIG. 20 illustrates Signals and Data for Wireless Device Operation and

FIG. 21 illustrates Route and Guidance Concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Part 1: Description of Emitter Location TechniquesOpen Terrain Signal Location

Location technology gives first responders some ability to locate a call(e.g., mobile device) in open terrain. The enabling technologies in thisscenario may include direction of arrival and signal strength. In openterrain, cell tower coverage may be reduced and therefore there may notbe more than one tower available to facilitate geolocation and/ortriangulation. FIG. 1 illustrates this condition. In this drawing, afirst cell phone user 101 with cell phone or other wireless device 102and second cell phone user 103 with cell phone 104 are bothcommunicating with an emergency call center through the cell tower 105with antenna array 106 located on the tower 105. Cell phone 102 radiatesa RF signal 107 to the tower 105. Cell phone 104 radiates a RF signal108 to the tower 105. The antenna array 106 on tower 105 is illustratedwith eight directional antenna elements. Each element covers a 45-degreesector about the tower 105. Cell tower 105 may determine the antennasector being used for each cell phone user and also permits the celltower 105 to determine the signal strength of each signal 107 and 108being received. This information allows the cell tower system todetermine the approximate direction and distance of user 101 and user103 from the tower 105.

Suburban Signal Location

Location technology also permits first responders some ability to locatea call in suburban areas. The enabling technologies in this scenario mayinclude direction of arrival, triangulation, geolocation,multilateration and/or signal strength. In suburban areas, cell towercoverage may be plentiful and therefore there may be two or more towersavailable to facilitate triangulation and/or multilateration. FIG. 2illustrates this condition. In this drawing, cell phone user 201 withcell phone or other wireless device 202 is communicating with anemergency call center through the cell tower 203 with antenna array 204located on the tower 203. Cell phone 202 radiates an RF signal 207 tothe antenna array 204 on tower 203. Cell phone 202 also radiates an RFsignal 208 to the antenna array 206 on tower 205. The antenna arrays 204and 206 on towers 203 and 205 are illustrated with eight directionalantenna elements. Each antenna element covers a 45-degree sector abouttower 203 and about tower 205. The cell tower 203 antenna array 204 maydetermine the respective antenna sector being used to receive the RFsignal 207 from the cell phone 202. The cell tower 205 antenna array 206may determine the respective antenna sector being used to receive the RFsignal 208 from the cell phone 202. This information allows the celltower system to determine the area of intersection 209 of the antennasectors from antenna array 204 and antenna array 206. The area ofintersection 209 establishes the approximate location of user 201 withcell phone 202 relative to the location of tower 203 and tower 205. Celltower 203 and tower 205 may also determine the signal strength ofsignals 207 and 208. The signal strength information may further aid inmore precisely locating the cell phone user 201 with cell phone 202.

Urban Signal Location

In urban areas, particularly those with high-rise buildings, locationtechnology may be seriously degraded and may not permit first respondersto locate a call in these areas. The enabling technologies in thisscenario may include antenna sector direction of arrival, triangulationand signal strength. In urban areas, cell tower coverage may beplentiful and therefore there may likely be two or more towers availableto facilitate triangulation. The impediment, however, is the numerousreflections of the cell telephone's signal from the many tall buildingssurrounding the caller. These reflected signals may arrive at any celltower at different angles from the actual signal from the cell phoneitself. These reflections may deceive the cell towers attempting totriangulate the cell phone location or even provide deception for celltowers attempting to simply determine the direction of arrival of thecell phone signal.

FIG. 3B illustrates the condition of a single cell tower receivingnumerous reflections of cell phone signals being reflected from nearbybuildings. In this drawing, a first cell phone user 301 with a cellphone or other wireless device and a second cell phone user 302 with acell phone are both communicating with an emergency call center throughthe cell tower 303 with an antenna array located on the tower. The cellphone at first user 301 radiates a direct RF signal 304 to the antennaarray on tower 303. The cell phone at first user 301 also radiatesindirect RF signals 306 and 307 to the antenna array on tower 303. RFsignals 306 and 307 reflect off a nearby building and arrive at theantenna array on tower 303 at a different angle from the direct RFsignal 304. The cell phone at the second user 302 radiates a direct RFsignal 305 to the antenna array on tower 303. The cell phone at seconduser 302 also radiates indirect RF signals 308 and 309 to the antennaarray on tower 303. RF signals 308 and 309 reflect off a nearby buildingand arrive at the antenna array on tower 303 at a different angle fromthe direct RF signal 305. The antenna array on tower 303 is illustratedwith eight directional antenna elements. Each element covers a 45-degreesector about the tower 303.

The cell tower 303 may determine the antenna sector being used for eachcell phone RF signal being received. However in this illustration, thecell tower 303 sees two RF signals from each cell phone user. The towersees two RF signals 304 and 307 from cell user 301 and the tower seestwo RF signals 305 and 309 from cell user 302. If the two RF signalsfrom user 301 are relatively equal and arrive at different antennasectors, it may be difficult to establish the direction of the user 301with respect to cell tower 303. Likewise, if the two RF signals fromuser 302 are relatively equal and arrive at different antenna sectors,it may be difficult to establish the direction of the user 302 withrespect to cell tower 303. If a second cell tower is located nearby, itmay experience the same difficulty with reflected RF signals from eachcell user. As a result of these circumstances, an attempt of signaltriangulation by two cell towers may not provide useful cell phonelocation relative to the cell towers.

Signal Location Techniques

The use of direction of arrival, signal strength, and triangulation areuseful cell phone location techniques that take advantage of dataparameters that are already available in existing cell telephone networkarchitectures. The data parameters may include the signal strengthrequired (or used) to communicate with nearby cell phones and thesectorial antenna that receives the strongest signal from each cellphone.

Direction of Arrival and Signal Strength

The direction of arrival technique is based upon the use of a singlecell tower with many sectorial antennas installed on the tower. In thecase of eight sectors, for example, each of the eight antennas (each astacked array) may subtend a horizontal coverage arc of 45-degrees. Thedirection of arrival technique may be used effectively in desolate openterrain where a person with a cell phone and perhaps driving anautomobile or in a house may be identified. Other arc coverage ispossible, such as 120 degrees, even with three or more (e.g., eight)antennas. The cell tower may establish the direction of arrival for aspecific cell phone by determining which sectorial antenna requires (ormay use) the least signal power to communicate with the cell phone.

The use of direction of arrival coupled with signal strength may permitestimating the distance in a particular sector from a single cell towerto the cell phone user. This technique may improve the ability to morerapidly locate the cell phone user. FIG. 1 illustrates this condition.The cell tower may establish the distance for a specific cell phone bymeasuring the signal strength required (or used) to communicate with thecell phone and comparing that measurement with a database.

Signal Triangulation

Triangulation may use two or more cell towers (or receivers) that canreceive the cell phone signal. These cell towers may each be equippedwith sectorial antennas. When an emergency cell phone call is made, bothcell towers may be instructed by a system operator or automatically torecord and report the respective sectors in which each cell towerreceives the distress call. The system operator or the system softwaremay then determine the map coordinates at which the two cell towersectors intersect. The area of intersection specifies the location ofthe cell phone. The area specified could however be quite large if thesectors intersect a mile or more from the towers. FIG. 2 illustratesthis condition.

Signal Time Difference of Arrival

Another emitter location technique to improve the resolution of location(e.g., within a football field length or about 300 feet) is that of TimeDifference of Arrival (TDOA). This technique can be applied to signalsthat can be received by two cell towers. With TDOA, both cell towers mayeach calculate (e.g., accurately) the time (within approximately 300nanoseconds) that a specific event (arrival of a designated datasynchronization bit) occurs within a particular cell phone signalreceived at both towers. FIG. 4 illustrates this condition. In FIG. 4 ,cell phone user 401 with cell phone or other wireless device 402 iscommunicating with an emergency call center through the cell tower 403with an antenna array located on the tower 403. Cell phone 402 radiatesan RF signal to the antenna array on tower 403. Cell phone 402 alsoradiates an RF signal to the antenna array on tower 404. The antennaarrays on towers 403 and 404 are illustrated with eight directionalantenna elements. Each antenna element covers a 45-degree sector abouttower 403 and about tower 404. Implementation of TDOA permits the celltower 403 antenna array and cell tower 404 antenna array to determinethe relative time of arrival of the RF signal radiating from the cellphone 402. The two cell towers 403 and 404 may determine the relativetime of arrival by comparing the arrival time of a specific bit ofinformation within the cell phone RF signal with a national standardtime reference that resides at each cell tower location.

FIG. 4 illustrates two cell towers 403 and 404 separated by an arbitrarydistance along the line 410; let that arbitrary distance be 5,000 feet.The curved lines 405, 406, 407, 408 and 409 are hyperbolic curves thatrepresent the locus of points along which a cell phone RF signal have aconstant time difference of arrival at the two cell towers 403 and 404.Since the line 407 is halfway between the two towers, the timedifference of arrival is be zero for an RF signal from a cell phoneanywhere along this line 407. The dark line 405 intersects line 410about 1,000 feet from tower 403 and about 4,000 feet from tower 404. AnRF signal travels about one foot per nanosecond, therefore a cell phonesignal at the intersection takes 1,000 nanoseconds to travel to tower403 and takes 4,000 nanoseconds to travel to tower 404. The timedifference of arrival is 3,000 nanoseconds assuming time at tower 403 issubtracted from time at tower 404. Therefore anywhere along the darkline 405 the time difference of arrival is 3,000 nanoseconds. So if themeasured time difference of arrival of the time at tower 404 minus thetime at tower 403 is equal to 3,000 nanoseconds, the system may predictthat the cell phone lies somewhere along the dark line 405 thatrepresents a TDOA of 3,000 nanoseconds. To resolve the ambiguity ofwhere the cell phone is located along the line 405, the closer celltower 403 may also utilize the angle of arrival sector.

The TDOA technique may be used to greater advantage if three cell towersare available as illustrated in FIG. 5 . In this drawing, cell phoneuser 501 with a cell phone or other wireless device is communicatingwith an emergency call center through the cell tower 502 with an antennaarray located on the tower. The cell phone at 501 radiates an RF signalto the antenna array on tower 502. The cell phone at 501 also radiatesan RF signal to the antenna arrays on cell tower 503 and cell tower 504.The antenna arrays on towers 502, 503 and 504 are illustrated with eightdirectional antenna elements. Each antenna element covers a 45-degreesector about each tower. This TDOA implementation may permit the celltower 502, cell tower 503 and cell tower 504 to determine the relativetime of arrival of the RF signal radiating from the cell phone at user501. The three cell towers 502, 503 and 504 determine the relative timeof arrival by comparing the arrival time of a specific bit ofinformation within the cell RF signal with a national standard timereference that resides at each cell tower location.

The dark curved lines 505, 506 and 507 are hyperbolic curves thatrepresent the locus of points along which a cell phone RF signal have aconstant time difference of arrival at the three cell towers 502, 503and 504. The dark curved line 505 is the hyperbolic curve thatrepresents the locus of points along which the cell phone may be locatedbased upon the cell phone signal TDOA between the two cell towers 502and 503. The dark curved line 506 is the hyperbolic curve thatrepresents the locus of points along which the cell phone may be locatedbased upon the cell phone signal TDOA between the two cell towers 502and 504. The dark curved line 507 is the hyperbolic curve thatrepresents the locus of points along which the cell phone may be locatedbased upon the cell phone signal TDOA between the two cell towers 503and 504. The actual location of the cell phone user 501 may beestablished by finding the intersection of the three dark lines 505, 506and 507. An estimate may be found by using two of these dark lines butthree (or any number) may be used if available.

Global Position System

Another emitter location technique to improve the resolution of locationis the satellite based Global Positioning System (GPS). This techniquecan locate a cell phone to within a few feet in open terrain. The GPSlocation scheme operates by first allowing a cell phone to receive GPSsignals from two or more GPS satellites. The cell phone processes thesatellite signals and calculates the phone's location ingeo-coordinates. When the cell phone is used to make an emergency callto a 911 call center, the cell phone may automatically report itsgeo-location to the emergency 911 call center. In an urban highmultipath environment, however, the GPS system signals may be reflectedor blocked and therefore may not permit a cell phone to accuratelycalculate its location and therefore the phone may not report anaccurate geo-location.

FIG. 3A illustrates a cell phone user 301A in an urban environment. FIG.3A also illustrates two GPS satellites 302A and 303A and theirrespective RF signals being received by the cell phone user 301A. Thecell phone receives a direct signal 304A from GPS satellite 302A alongwith RF signals 305A and 306A that are reflected from building 314A andRF signals 307A and 308A that are reflected from building 315A. The cellphone also receives a direct signal 309A from GPS satellite 303A alongwith RF signals 310A and 311A that are reflected from building 316A andRF signals 312A and 313A that are reflected from building 317A. The cellphone may process the GPS signals but may calculate a geo-location thatmay have a larger error compared with an open terrain calculation.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Other emitter location techniques may overcome the urban multipathproblems for both outdoor and indoor wireless devices. One suchtechnique includes the adaptation of local Wi-Fi systems to performsignal strength measurements and TDOA measurements. This may permitapproximate emitter location within buildings and in public spacesoutdoors. Another technique is that of the adaptation of Bluetoothdevices to identify nearby cell phones and other wireless devices, basedupon signal strength, thus enabling the approximate location of thosedevices to be established. Both of these techniques, however, may havelocation errors due to localized multipath and uncertain signalattenuation caused by walls and other metal objects within theirvicinity.

The preceding emitter location techniques are somewhat effective in openterrain and in suburban settings but they become less effective in denseurban areas where tall buildings cause signal multipath of a magnitudethat rivals that of a cell phone's direct path signal. FIG. 3Billustrates this condition.

Part 2: Hotel and Factory

Signal Location using Building Systems

One embodiment augments a Fire Alarm System, security system, accesssystem, SCADA system or other building and facility monitoring and datasystems with the ability to detect and locate a 911 or other emergencycall from a cell telephone or other personal mobile communicationdevice. To achieve this feature, the fire alarm system or otherconnected systems may be equipped with special 911 signal monitoringdevices. FIG. 6 illustrates this configuration. FIG. 6 illustrates twocell towers 614 and 615. Also illustrated are two buildings: a factory605 with SCADA system components 609 and 610 and a three story hotelbuilding 604 with fire alarm system components 606 and 607.

Signal Location using Fire Alarm Systems

Inside the hotel building 604 there is a fire alarm system with a mainelectronic processor unit 606 (main fire alarm panel), a graphic displayunit 607 (annunciation panel), and four special 911 signal monitoringdevices 608 and 611. Devices 608 (three shown FIG. 6 ) are indoordevices connected to a fire alarm system and device 611 is an outdoordevice connected to a fire alarm system. The special 911 signalmonitoring devices 608 and 611 are connected to the main electronicprocessor 606 by means of a cable network. The graphic display unit 607(annunciation panel) may be located at the main entrance of a publicbuilding for viewing by the firefighters upon arriving at the scene of afire. The graphic display provides a map-like view of the completebuilding and indicates the location of the detector that has sensed analarm condition. The detector may be a smoke or heat detector. Forsimplicity smoke and heat detectors are not shown in FIG. 6 but areassumed to be present. The special 911 signal monitoring devices 608 areconnected to the fire alarm system for the purpose of detecting nearbyemergency cell phone calls to a 911 call center. These special 911signal monitoring devices 608 detect either RF and/or acoustic(ultrasonic) signals from nearby user cell phone devices and provide anappropriate alarm condition that is displayed on graphic display unit607 and automatically forwarded through the same or similar network thatis used for off-site fire alarm reporting.

An outdoor special 911 signal monitoring device 611 may also beinstalled outside the hotel but connected to the fire alarm systemnetwork. The purpose of this device 611 is to provide location of 911calls near the building along the nearby sidewalks and streets. Cellphone user 601 is located on the second floor of the hotel and isplacing an emergency call to an off-site 911 call center. The call issent to cell tower 614 via the RF signal 616. In addition, special RFand/or acoustic signals 619 are also emitted from the cell phone and aredetected by a nearby special 911 signal monitoring device (e.g., indevice 608). Cell phone user 602 is located on a sidewalk outside thehotel and is also placing an emergency call to a 911 call center. Thecall is sent to cell tower 615 via the RF signal 617. In addition,special RF and/or acoustic signals 620 are emitted from the cell phoneand are detected by nearby outdoor special 911 signal monitoring devices611. Note that since the special 911 signal monitoring devices 608 and611 may have limited range (e.g., as compared to a cell tower), it ispossible to accurately (or more accurately) locate a caller to aspecific room within the hotel or within a limited distance outside ofthe building.

Signal Location Using Other Building Systems

In addition to the preceding description of the special 911 signalmonitoring devices 608 and 611 being connected to a fire alarm system,in one embodiment the special 911 signal monitoring devices 608 and 611may be connected and interfaced with a card access systems, code accesssystems, intrusion alarm systems, surveillance systems, computernetworks and other similar facility systems found in public and privatebuildings.

Signal Location using SCADA Systems

FIG. 6 also includes a factory 605 with SCADA system components. Insidethe factory 605 there is a SCADA system with a main electronic processorunit 609 (e.g., a desktop computer), a remote device controller unit 610(e.g., a programmable logic controller PLC unit) and two special 911signal monitoring devices 612 and 613. The special 911 signal monitoringdevices 612 and 613 are connected to the remote device controller unit610 by means of a cable network. The remote device controller unit 610(e.g., a programmable logic controller PLC unit) is an example ofseveral such units that may be located throughout the factory in closeproximity to the equipment they operate and monitor such as motors,valves, louvers and heaters.

The main electronic processor unit 609 (e.g., a desktop computer)provides a graphic display of the factory equipment and the process flowwithin the factory. The main electronic processor unit 609 may alsoprovide a map-like view of the complete factory and indicate thelocation of motors, valves, louvers and heaters and also the special 911signal monitoring devices 612 and 613 and their alarm status. Forsimplicity the factory motors, valves, louvers and heaters are not shownin FIG. 6 but are assumed to be present. The special 911 signalmonitoring devices 612 and 613 are connected to the SCADA system for thepurpose of detecting nearby emergency cell phone calls to a 911 callcenter. These special 911 signal monitoring devices 612 and 613 detecteither RF and/or acoustic (ultrasonic) signals from nearby user cellphone devices and provide an appropriate alarm condition that isautomatically forwarded through the same or similar network that is usedfor the SCADA system off-site reporting.

An outdoor special 911 signal monitoring device 613 may be installedoutside the factory but connected to the SCADA system network. Thepurpose of this device 613 is to provide location of 911 calls near thebuilding along the nearby storage yards, sidewalks and streets. Cellphone user 603 is located inside the factory and is placing an emergencycall to an off-site 911 call center. The call is sent to cell tower 615via the RF signal 618. In addition, special RF and/or acoustic signals621 are also emitted from the cell phone and are detected by nearbyspecial 911 signal monitoring devices 612. A cell phone user that islocated outside the factory may also make an emergency call to a 911call center. The call may be sent to cell tower 615. In addition,special RF and/or acoustic signals that are emitted from the cell phonemay be detected by a nearby outdoor special 911 signal monitoring device613 located outside the factory. Note that since the special 911 signalmonitoring devices 612 and 613 have limited range (e.g., as compared toa cell tower), it is possible to accurately (or more accurately) locatea caller to a specific area within the factory or within a limiteddistance outside of the factory.

Signal Location Using Other Industrial Systems

In addition to the preceding description of the special 911 signalmonitoring devices 612 and 613 being connected to a factory SCADAsystem, in one embodiment the special 911 signal monitoring devices 612and 613 may be connected and interfaced with a card access systems, codeaccess systems, intrusion alarm systems, surveillance systems and othersimilar facility systems found in factories, manufacturing and othercommercial facilities.

Part 3: Monitoring Devices in Fire Alarm System and SCADA System SignalMonitoring Devices

One embodiment may provide an apparatus that can identify the location(e.g., more exact location) of a cell phone when making an emergencycall in any building, factory and other structures that are located inany size metropolis whether or not the metropolis exhibits a strongsignal multipath environment.

Host Fire Alarm Systems

One embodiment may use or is a cell phone distress call signalmonitoring device. This embodiment may comprise a compact cell phonedistress call signal monitoring device with a physical configuration andform factor similar to an addressable smoke detector used within anaddressable fire alarm system.

FIG. 7 illustrates the configuration of an addressable fire alarm systemwith the special 911 signal monitoring devices included. This drawingillustrates a block diagram of an addressable fire alarm system. Thefire alarm control panel 701 is the main electronic processor unit ofthe system. The fire alarm annunciation panel 702 is a graphic displayunit that displays a visual map of a building or facility and therebyindicates the location (e.g., exact location) of an alarm condition. Thefire alarm annunciation panel 702 may be located at the main entrance ofa building or facility in plain view of firefighters and other emergencypersonnel.

FIG. 7 illustrates three circuit loops 704, 705 and 706 connected to thefire alarm control panel. Each of these circuit loops may have many firedetection devices, such as device 707, connected to the wiring. Devices707 (fourteen illustrated in FIG. 7 , but more or fewer possible) arefire detection devices connected to the illustrated fire alarm system.The connected fire detection devices 707 illustrated in FIG. 7 may besmoke detectors, heat detectors and infra-red flame detectors. Manyother types of fire warning devices not illustrated such as strobes andhorns may also be connected within a fire alarm system. In oneembodiment, the three circuit loops 704, 705 and 706 may also haveconnected one or more special 911 signal monitoring devices, such asdevice 708. Devices 708 (nine illustrated in FIG. 7 , but more or fewerpossible) are 911 signal monitoring devices connected to the illustratedfire alarm system. Since this is an addressable fire alarm system, eachdevice 707 and 708 on circuit loops 704, 705 and 706 may emit an addresssignal (e.g., a unique address signal) to the fire alarm control panel701 periodically indicating its status. If an alarm condition arises atone or more devices 707 and 708, those particular devices may send analarm condition and their respective addresses over their respectivecircuit loops to the fire alarm control panel 701. The address of eachparticular device is documented during installation along with thedevice location (room number, floor number, etc.). In addition the firealarm annunciation panel graphic display 702 may be configured tovisually indicate an alarm location that corresponds with the addressand location of any device that goes into an alarm condition.

Fire Alarm System Reporting

The fire alarm control panel 701 may also be connected to an off-sitefire station or other emergency facility 709 via connection 710.Connection 710 may be a telephone line, a wireless connection or anEthernet connection. The fire alarm control panel 701 may automaticallycommunicate any fire or special 911 signal monitoring alarm conditions,including the location (e.g., exact or more exact location) of anyspecial 911 signal monitoring devices 708 that are in alarm, to theemergency facility 709. The fire alarm control panel 701 may alsoprovide a visual indication of the alarm conditions at the fire alarmannunciation panel 702.

SCADA and Other Host Systems

In addition the addressable signal monitoring device may also bedesigned for use with other types of systems such as intrusion alarmsystems, card or code access security systems, computer networks andbuilding System Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. SCADAsystems may be used to regulate and monitor the operation of buildingair conditioning equipment, manufacturing machinery, municipal waterprocessing machinery, lighting circuits, elevators, ventilation fans,intrusion detection devices and fire detection devices. FIG. 8illustrates this configuration.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a SCADA system. The mainelectronic processor unit 801 (e.g., a desktop computer) is the primaryman-machine interface and control point for the entire SCADA system.Remotely located device controller units 802 may be programmable logiccontroller PLC units that are interfaced with the main electronicprocessor by means of a cable or bus network 803 and 804. One or moreremote device controller units 802 (four illustrated in FIG. 8 , butmore or fewer possible) may be located throughout the factory and inclose proximity to the equipment they operate such as motors, valves,chemical analyzers, louvers and heaters. FIG. 8 illustrates motorizedequipment 805 and chemical analyzers 806 connected to the devicecontroller units 802.

Each device controller 802 may control up to ten or more pieces ofequipment. In one embodiment, the device controller units 802 may alsohave connected one or more special 911 signal monitoring devices, suchas device 807. Devices 807 (four illustrated in FIG. 8 , but more orfewer possible) are 911 signal monitoring devices connected to the SCADAsystem. The special 911 signal monitoring devices 807 are connected tothe SCADA system for the purpose of detecting nearby emergency cellphone calls being made to an off-site 911 call center. These special 911signal monitoring devices 807 detect either RF and/or acoustic(ultrasonic) signals from nearby user cell phone devices and provide anappropriate alarm condition to the main electronic processor unit 801.The main electronic processor unit 801 provides a graphic display of thefactory equipment and the process flow within the factory and may alsoprovide a map like view of the complete factory and indicates thelocation of motors, valves, louvers and heaters and also the special 911signal monitoring devices 807 and their alarm status.

SCADA System Reporting

The main electronic processor unit 801 is interfaced with an off-sitemonitoring and emergency response facility 808 via connection 809. Thisconnection 809 may be a telephone line, a wireless connection or anEthernet connection. The SCADA system may automatically communicate anyspecial 911 signal monitoring alarm conditions, including the location(e.g., exact or more exact location) of any special 911 signalmonitoring devices 807 that are in alarm, to the off-site monitoring andemergency response facility 808.

Part 4: RF and Acoustic Monitoring Device Circuits and Operation SignalMonitoring Device Design Configuration

Each special 911 signal monitoring device illustrated in FIG. 6 , FIG. 7and FIG. 8 may be designed and constructed to monitor and detect radiofrequency (RF) and/or acoustic signals that may emanate from a cellphone that may be configured to emit such signals when the cell phoneuser is making a distress call. The specific choice of acoustic or RFsignals to be used and the frequencies of those signals and theirencoding may be determined by the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) regulations and industry standards.

A signal monitoring device may include circuits for monitoring andreceiving acoustic signals and/or RF signals. The signal monitoringdevice may be equipped with circuits that could appropriately decode theacoustic and/or RF signals to determine if an emergency call is beingmade and to determine the identity of the cell phone being used. Thesignal monitoring device may also be equipped with circuits that couldappropriately detect the acoustic and/or RF signals to determine thesignal strength of the RF and acoustic signals and forward some or allinformation to the main electronic processor of the fire alarm system,SCADA system or any other system to which the signal monitoring deviceis connected.

RF Monitoring Device

The circuits comprising each RF signal monitoring device may include:antenna, RF amplifier, receiver circuit, detector circuit, decodercircuit, automatic gain control (AGC) circuit, power supply circuit,data encoder circuit and/or data terminals.

FIG. 9 illustrates a circuit block diagram for an RF signal monitoringdevice. A cell phone user 901 is illustrated holding a cell phone 902.The cell phone user 901 is making an emergency phone call and cell phone902 is radiating an RF signal 921 to a local cell tower 922. Inaddition, the cell phone 902 is radiating an RF signal 903 to antenna904 that is part of the RF signal monitoring device. The RF signalmonitoring device is comprised of antenna 904, signal preamplifier 905,signal filter 906, receiver circuit 907, signal detector 908, signaldecoder 909, data encoder 910, AGC amplifier 911, detection sensitivitycontrol 912, AGC connection from detector 913, AGC connection topreamplifier 914, AGC connection to receiver circuit 915, AGC connectionto data encoder 916, data modem 917, host system network cable input918, host system network cable output 919, and/or power supply 920.Antenna 904 may have a directional pattern for receiving signals in amanner that gives preference to signals from desired directions or thatrejects signals from specific directions. In addition, RF absorbingand/or shielding materials may be installed adjacent to an RF signalmonitoring device to control received signal directional patterns. Thesefeatures are intended to improve system performance (in at least oneembodiment) in terms of preventing signals from passing through floorsand ceilings to and from a cell phone and thus causing a cell phonelocation error. These antenna directional features may be omitted inother embodiments.

NOTE: The noun phrase, “electronic device units for detection ofemergency call,” may also be referred to as special signal monitoringdevices, signal monitoring devices, monitoring devices or as monitoringcircuits, special signal detectors or simply as detectors.

RF Device Operation

Antenna 904 receives the RF signal 903 from the cell phone 902. Antenna904 is connected to signal preamplifier 905 and sends the signal to thepreamplifier for amplification. Signal preamplifier 905 is connected tosignal filter 906 and sends the signal through signal filter 906 to theinput of the receiver circuit 907. The receiver circuit 907 may downconvert the signal to a lower IF frequency and may filter and mayfurther amplify the signal. The receiver circuit 907 output is connectedto the signal detector 908. The signal is sent to signal detector 908that separates the data components and the signal magnitude componentfrom the IF carrier signal that is output from the receiver circuit 907.The signal detector 908 may additionally contain a clock and may containa signal correlator that together they operate on the received signal toestablish an absolute or relative time-of-arrival for the signal 903.The time-of-arrival information may be stored for subsequent use.

The data components from signal detector 908 are sent to signal decoder909 which may inspect the data for information that is deemed relevantfor the functionality of the RF signal monitoring device. The signaldecoder 909 may further send information to the data encoder 910 forfurther transmission via the data modem 917 to the host system via thehost system network cable output 919. The signal magnitude component 913from signal detector 908 is sent to the AGC amplifier 911. The detectionsensitivity control 912 is also connected to the AGC amplifier 911 andestablishes the distance or range sensitivity calibration for the RFsignal monitoring device. The signal magnitude component from signaldetector 908 is amplified by the AGC amplifier 911 and sent to thesignal preamplifier 905 (via AGC connection 914) and to the receivercircuit 907 (via AGC connection 915) to provide negative gain feedbackto ensure the linearity of the receiver amplification chain. The AGCamplifier 911 may also send information to the data encoder 910 forfurther transmission of signal magnitude data via the data modem 917 tothe host system via the host system network cable output 919. The datamodem 917 is connected to the host system network via the host systemnetwork cable input 918 that comes from the host system and the hostsystem network cable output 919 that returns to the host system. The RFsignal monitoring device derives its operating power from the powersupply 920. The power supply 920 may derive its source of power from thehost system network cable input 918.

The modem 917 may alternatively be connected to other host systems suchas SCADA systems, internet access systems or other building monitoringsystems in which case the modem 917 may have other connection means withthe host system that include wireless, fiber optic cable or other wiredmeans.

Acoustic Monitoring Device

The circuits comprising each acoustic signal monitoring device mayinclude: microphone, audio pre-amplifier, filter circuits, amplifiercircuits, detector circuit, decoder circuit, automatic gain control(AGC) circuit, power supply circuit, data encoder circuit, and/or dataterminals. The acoustic signal, if used, may include an ultrasonicsignal above the range for human hearing. Ultrasonic signals may be usedfor privacy and to prevent other persons present from knowing, audibly,that a distress call is being made.

FIG. 10B illustrates a circuit block diagram for an acoustic signalmonitoring device. A cell phone user 1001B is illustrated holding a cellphone 1002B. The cell phone user 1001B is making an emergency phone calland cell phone 1002B is radiating an RF signal 1021B to a local celltower 1022B. In addition, the cell phone 1002B is radiating an acousticsignal 1003B to microphone 1004B that is part of the acoustic signalmonitoring device. The acoustic signal monitoring device is comprised ofmicrophone 1004B, signal preamplifier 1005B, signal filter 1006B, secondamplifier circuit 1007B, signal detector 1008B, signal decoder 1009B,data encoder 1010B, AGC amplifier 1011B, detection sensitivity control1012B, AGC connection from detector 1013B, AGC connection topreamplifier 1014B, AGC connection to second amplifier circuit 1015B,AGC connection 1016B to data encoder 1010B, data modem 1017B, hostsystem network cable input 1018B, host system network cable output 1019Band power supply 1020B. Acoustic Device Operation

Microphone 1004B receives the acoustic signal 1003B from the cell phone1002B. Microphone 1004B is connected to signal preamplifier 1005B andsends the signal to the preamplifier for amplification. Signalpreamplifier 1005B is connected to signal filter 1006B and sends thesignal through signal filter 1006B to the input of the second amplifiercircuit 1007B. The second amplifier circuit 1007B may further amplifyand filter the signal. The second amplifier circuit 1007B output isconnected to the signal detector 1008B. The signal is sent to signaldetector 1008B that separates the data components and the signalmagnitude component from the signal that is output from the secondamplifier circuit 1007B.

The signal detector 1008B may additionally contain a clock and maycontain a signal correlator that together operate on the received signalto establish an absolute or relative time-of-arrival for the signal1003B. The time-of-arrival information may be stored for subsequent use.

The data components from signal detector 1008B are sent to signaldecoder 1009B which may inspect the data for information that is deemedrelevant for the functionality of the acoustic signal monitoring device.The signal decoder 1009B may further send information to the dataencoder 1010B for further transmission via the data modem 1017B to thehost system via the host system network cable output 1019B.

The signal magnitude component 1013B from signal detector 1008B is sentto the AGC amplifier 1011B. The detection sensitivity control 1012B isalso connected to the AGC amplifier 1011B and establishes the distanceor range sensitivity calibration for the acoustic signal monitoringdevice. The signal magnitude component 1013B from signal detector 1008Bis amplified by the AGC amplifier 1011B and sent to the signalpreamplifier 1005B (via AGC connection 1014B) and to the secondamplifier circuit 1007B (via AGC connection 1015B) to provide negativegain feedback to ensure the linearity of the receiver amplificationchain. The AGC amplifier 1011B also sends information 1016B to the dataencoder 1010B for further transmission of signal magnitude data via thedata modem 1017B to the host system via the host system network cableoutput 1019B. The data modem 1017B is connected to the host systemnetwork via the host system network cable input 1018B that comes fromthe host system and the host system network cable output 1019B thatreturns to the host system. The acoustic signal monitoring devicederives its operating power from the power supply 1020B. The powersupply 1020B may derive its source of power from the host system networkcable input 1018B.

The modem 1017B may alternatively be connected to other host systemssuch as SCADA systems, internet access systems or other buildingmonitoring systems in which case the modem 1017B may have otherconnection means with the host system that include wireless, fiber opticcable or other wired means.

Part 5: Monitoring Device with Forward Link: Device Summary and DeviceForm Factor Forward Signal Link to Wireless Device

The circuits comprising each RF or acoustic signal monitoring deviceillustrated at FIGS. 9 and 10B may include an additional circuit thatupon detecting an emergency call being made, subsequently emits an RFand/or acoustic forward link signal to the user's wirelesscommunications device. That forward link signal may contain specificlocation information that designates the location (e.g., exact location)of the signal monitoring device. This location information may includethe device serial number, the building address, floor and room numberand/or the geo-location of the signal monitoring device. Part or theentire forward link signal may be conveyed to the Wireless Device overWifi and/or the internet; wherein the monitoring device data isinterfaced with the Wifi network at the host system controller and/orhost system processor. The user's wireless communication device may thenautomatically forward the location data to a 911 call center. FIG. 10Aillustrated a cell phone user 1002A placing an emergency call and anearby signal monitoring device 1005A with additional forward linksignal transmitter 1006A. The signal monitoring device serial numberwould, in one embodiment, be unique for each signal monitoring device.The serial number may be assigned when the device is manufactured and/orinstalled. In 911 call center systems that are equipped to utilizedevice serial numbers, the 911 call center would, in one embodiment,maintain a database that identifies the installed location of eachserial numbered signal monitoring device. This database would becompiled from installation data provided by equipmentinstaller/technicians. The 911 call center would access the database todetermine the location of the emergency cell phone call.

Hereafter in the many descriptions of cell phones, wirelesscommunications devices, handheld radios and medical devices, it isunderstood that the special signal monitoring devices are equipped withboth monitoring circuits, i.e. receiving circuits, and forward linkcircuits, i.e. transmitting circuits.

FIG. 10A illustrates a circuit block diagram for a signal monitoringdevice with an additional forward link transmitter. The circuitscomprising the forward link transmitting circuit 1006A may include:device location data memory 1007A, location data input device 1008A, RFand/or acoustic signal modulator 1009A, signal radiating element 1011Afor sending RF and/or acoustic signals, interconnecting feed line 1010Afrom signal modulator 1009A to the signal radiating element 1011A and aninterconnection 1012A between the signal monitoring circuit 1005A andthe forward link signal transmitter 1006A. The signal radiating element1011A may be shared with signal monitoring circuit 1005A and therebyprovide the signal monitoring device and forward link circuits with acommon element for both sending and receiving signals. The circuits mayadditionally include an AGC data interconnection 1012A between thesignal monitoring circuit 1005A and the location memory 1007A.Time-of-arrival data may also be sent from the signal detector 1022A tothe location memory 1007A via interconnection 1012A.

An interconnection 1015A may additionally be implemented between modem1017A and location data memory 1007A for sending data from the hostsystem via the host system network cable input 1018A and modem 1017A.

The location data input device 1008A represents the apparatus/means bywhich an equipment installer/technician enters the location informationinto the device location data memory 1007A. The location data inputdevice 1008A may, in one embodiment, include an external logic devicesuch as a portable computer that interfaces with the device locationdata memory 1007A via a wire or wireless portal. Other means of dataentry may be used. The means of data entry may include entering thesignal monitoring device location e.g. the building address, floornumber, room number and/or geo-coordinates. One alternative means ofdata entry may include assigning a serial number (e.g., a unique serialnumber) to each signal monitoring device 1005A with forward link signaltransmitter 1006A. That serial number may be assigned and entered at themanufacturing facility and/or upon device installation. In systems thatutilize device serial numbers, the 911 call center would, in oneembodiment, maintain a database that identifies the installationlocation of each serial numbered device. The database would, in oneembodiment, be compiled from installation location data provided byequipment installers/technicians.

A cell phone user 1002A is illustrated holding a cell phone. The cellphone user 1002A is making an emergency phone call and the cell phone isradiating an RF signal 1003A to a local cell tower 1001A. In addition,the cell phone is radiating a special signal (via RF and/or acousticsignals) 1004A to the signal monitoring device 1005A. When the signalmonitoring device 1005A detects a nearby emergency call being made, itmay activate the forward link signal circuit 1006A via connection 1012A.The location memory data residing in the device location data memory1007A may subsequently be conveyed to the signal modulator 1009A. Thesignal modulator 1009A may transmit the location information via theforward signal link 1013A (via RF and/or acoustic signals) to the cellphone. The cell phone may then automatically forward the location datato the 911 call center via signal 1003A and the tower 1001A.

The location data memory 1007A may also receive AGC data from AGCamplifier 1014A and time-of-arrival data from signal detector 1022A viainterconnection 1012A. The AGC data and time-of-arrival data maysubsequently be conveyed to the signal modulator 1009A for transmissionvia the forward link signal 1013A to the cell phone at 1002A. The cellphone may further use the AGC data and time-of-arrival data to estimatethe distance, or estimate a relative distance, between the cell phoneuser 1002A and the signal monitoring circuit 1005A. The cell phone maycompare the AGC data and/or the time-of-arrival data for data receivedfrom one or more signal monitoring devices and select the signalmonitoring device that is closest to the cell phone user. The cell phonemay alternatively or additionally process the AGC data and/or thetime-of-arrival data from one or more signal monitoring devices toestimate the location of the cell phone with respect to one or more ofthe signal monitoring devices and/or estimate the location of the cellphone within the facility. This location information may be stored inthe memory of the cell phone.

Additional data from the host system network cable input 1018A to themodem 1017A may be subsequently sent to the location data memory 1007Avia interconnection 1015A. The additional data may subsequently beconveyed to the signal modulator 1009A for transmission via the forwardlink signal 1013A to the cell phone at 1002A.

When the signal monitoring device 1005A with modem 1017A is hosted by atraditional wire interconnected addressable fire alarm system, the datarates between the signal monitoring device 1005A and the host systemnetwork may be relatively slow compared with an internet access system.On the other hand, data exchange rates may be relatively high when themodem 1017A is connected to a high data rate host system such as aninternet access system or a facility computer system wherein the hostsystem network includes wireless, fiber optic cable or other high speedwired means.

The cell phone features for sending and receiving the special signals1004A and 1013A to and from a cell phone may (and/or must) be availableon cell phones and wireless devices during (e.g., all cell phones and/orwireless devices) emergency 911 calls. This requirement may be necessaryfor a location system to be fully effective; on less than all cellphones the system may still be effective, however. Signal MonitoringDevice Summary

Each special 911 signal monitoring device illustrated in FIG. 9 , FIG.10A and FIG. 10B may be designed and constructed to connect to the localfire alarm or other host system network via the data modems 917, 1017Aand 1017B respectively. They may also derive their power from the hostsystem data network via connected power supplies 920, 1020A and 1020B.FIG. 11 , however, illustrates an alternate special 911 signalmonitoring device with a wireless data modem 1117 and antenna 1123 forcommunication with the host system via a wireless interface. The special911 signal monitoring device illustrated in FIG. 11 may energize itspower supply 1120 via a connection 1122 that is connected to a localutility or other power source.

Signal Monitoring Device Form Factor

Special 911 signal monitoring devices may be either single purposedevices or may be combined and share an enclosure with anothermonitoring device. For example the signal monitoring device may becombined with a smoke detector device.

One embodiment provides a special 911 signal monitoring device that iscombined with and shares an enclosure with a fire or other monitoringdevice. FIG. 12 illustrates an example of an RF special 911 signalmonitoring device 1202 combined with an infrared fire detection device1203 into a single enclosure 1201 and connected to a fire alarm systemvia network cable 1206. The special 911 signal monitoring device 1202may detect emergency cell phone calls while the infrared fire detectiondevice 1203 may detect infrared radiation 1205 from a local fire 1204.

Part 6: Cell Phones with RF Special Signal Circuits

Cell Phones with Special Signals Design Considerations

Each cell phone illustrated in FIGS. 6, 9, 10A and 10B is equipped tosend a special RF and/or acoustic signal when making an emergency ordistress call. The special RF and/or acoustic signal is intended forreception by a local special signal detector that may be autonomous orconnected to a building fire alarm system, security system, computernetwork system, telephone system, card access system, SCADA system orany other building system. The special signal detector may or may notinclude circuits that emit forward link location data to a cell phone.

Cell Phones Circuit for RF Special Signals

The special signal circuits comprising a cell phone with RF specialsignaling may include: RF signal source, data memory for storing theidentification data associated with the cell phone, data memory forstoring the emergency call identifier data, data encoder for modulatingthe RF signal with the identification and emergency call data, controlcircuits, RF amplifier and antenna.

FIG. 14 illustrates a circuit block diagram for a cell phone withtraditional circuits and with RF special signaling circuits. Thecircuits comprising each cell phone may include: Antennas 1404 and 1454,antenna couplers 1405 and 1455, receiver circuits 1408 and 1458, speaker1409, microphone 1407, transmitter circuits 1406 and 1456, signalsources 1415 and 1465, data modulators 1416 and 1466, RF amplifiers 1417and 1467, GPS receiver 1413, location data memory 1414, cell phoneidentification data memory 1464, keypad 1410, control logic circuits1411 and visual display 1412.

The cell phone with RF special signaling circuit may operate in thefollowing manner when making a routine, non-emergency call. The userinitiates a call by keystrokes, or voice commands via the keypad 1410 ormicrophone 1407. The keypad 1410 and microphone 1407 are connected tothe control logic circuits 1411 which circuits are connected to visualdisplay 1412, cell phone receiver 1408 and cell phone transmitter 1406.The control logic initiates a cell phone call by activating the receiver1408, transmitter 1406 and by initiating and controlling data which issent to the transmitter. This data may include but not be limited to theidentification of the cell phone as contained in the identification datamemory 1464, the dialed phone number and the digitized voice signal ofthe user. The transmitter 1406 includes an RF signal source 1415 whichestablishes the RF carrier frequency. The data modulator 1416 modulatesthe RF signal with the digitized data from the cell phone identificationmemory, the number called and the digitized voice of the caller.Amplifier 1417 increases the power level of the RF signal to a magnitudesufficient to communicate with a nearby cell tower 1402. Amplifier 1417outputs the RF signal to an antenna coupler 1405 that directs the signalto antenna 1404. Antenna 1404 radiates the RF signal 1403 to a nearbycell tower 1402 which further directs the call data and voice to thedesired destination.

An RF signal is also radiated from the cell tower 1402 to the cell phoneantenna 1404. This RF signal is designated as a forward link signal.This forward link signal 1403 contains both control data forestablishing the call and subsequently contains digitized voice data andother data for maintaining the call. The antenna 1404 directs theforward link RF signal through the antenna coupler 1405 to the receivercircuits 1408. The receiver circuit 1408 detects/decodes the audiosignal and directs that signal to speaker 1409. During a routine,non-emergency call, the additional circuit components illustrated inFIG. 14 may remain inactive.

The cell phone with RF special signaling circuits may operate in thefollowing manner when the user is making an emergency phone call.

When making an emergency phone call, the cell phone may operate asdescribed previously for non-emergency calls except the additionalspecial signal circuit components may become active. The operation ofthe now active RF special signaling circuits is now described. When anemergency call is initiated by the user, the control logic circuits 1411may activate the special signal transmitter 1456 and the special signalreceiver 1458. The special signal transmitter 1456 may generate an RFsignal that is modulated with the cell phone's identification data andan identification code that indicates that an emergency call is beingmade. The identification data memory 1464 may send data to the datamodulator 1466. The RF signal source 1465 generates an RF signal andsends that signal to data modulator 1466. The data modulator 1466combines the RF signal and the data to produce a modulated RF signal.The output of data modulator 1466 is input to amplifier 1467 whichamplifies the modulated RF signal and outputs the signal to the antennacoupler 1455. Antenna coupler 1455 directs the amplified RF signal toantenna 1454 from which the RF signal is radiated via the signal 1453 toa nearby RF signal monitoring device 1452 which receives the specialsignals 1453 from the cell phone antenna 1454.

The RF signal monitoring device 1452 may be connected to a system 1468which monitors the status of connected devices. In the event an RFsignal monitoring device senses an emergency call, the system 1468 mayindicate that incident and may automatically notify emergency firstresponder personnel.

The monitoring device 1452 may also generate a forward link signal 1453that is sent to antenna 1454. This forward link signal may containlocation data, signal strength data and/or identification datapertaining to the RF signal monitoring device 1452. Antenna 1454 isconnected to antenna coupler 1455 and may transfer the received forwardlink special RF signal to the antenna coupler 1455. Antenna coupler 1455may in turn transfer the signal to the special signal receiver 1458.Receiver 1458 may detect/decode the information on the forward linkspecial signal 1453 and may subsequently store that information inlocation data memory 1414. This location and/or identification datainformation from the RF signal monitoring device 1452 may subsequentlybe transferred to the emergency call center over the cell phone reverselink signal 1403 and through the cell tower 1402.

The RF special signal circuits are illustrated in FIG. 14 as separatesystem components, however the RF special signal functions may beperformed by the primary cell phone transmitter and receiver componentsprovided the frequency of the RF special signals are compatible with theprimary cell phone transmitter and receivers. Specifically the functionsof antenna 1454 may be performed by antenna 1404; the functions ofantenna coupler 1455 may be performed by antenna coupler 1405, thefunctions of receiver 1458 may be performed by receiver 1408, thefunctions of transmitter 1456 may be performed by transmitter 1406, thefunctions of signal source 1465 may be performed by signal source 1415,the functions of data modulator 1466 may be performed by data modulator1416, and the functions of RF amplifier 1467 may be performed by RFamplifier 1417.

Part 7: Cell Phones with Acoustic Special Signal Circuits Cell PhonesCircuit for Acoustic Special Signals

The special signal circuits comprising a cell phone with acousticspecial signaling may include: acoustic frequency signal source, datamemory for storing the identification data associated with the cellphone, data memory for storing the emergency call identifier data, dataencoder for modulating the acoustic frequency signal with theidentification and emergency call data, control circuits, acousticfrequency amplifier and transducer for conversion of electrical signalsto acoustic waves.

FIG. 15 illustrates a circuit block diagram for a cell phone withtraditional RF circuits and with acoustic special signaling circuits.The circuits comprising each cell phone may include: Antenna 1504,antenna coupler 1505, acoustic transducer 1554, transducer coupler 1555,receiver circuits 1508 and 1558, speaker 1509, microphone 1507,transmitter circuits 1506 and 1556, signal sources 1515 and 1565, datamodulators 1516 and 1566, signal amplifiers 1517 and 1567, GPS receiver1513, location data memory 1514, cell phone identification data memory1564, keypad 1510, control logic circuits 1511 and visual display 1512.

The cell phone with RF special signaling circuit may operate in thefollowing manner when making a routine, non-emergency call. The userinitiates a call by keystrokes, or voice commands via the keypad 1510 ormicrophone 1507. The keypad 1510 and microphone 1507 are connected tothe control logic circuits 1511 which circuits are connected to visualdisplay 1512, cell phone receiver 1508 and cell phone transmitter 1506.The control logic initiates a cell phone call by activating the receiver1508, transmitter 1506 and by initiating and controlling data which issent to the transmitter. This data may include but not be limited to theidentification of the cell phone as contained in the identification datamemory 1564, the dialed phone number and the digitized voice signal ofthe user. The transmitter 1506 includes an RF signal source 1515 whichestablishes the RF carrier frequency. The data modulator 1516 modulatesthe RF signal with the digitized data from the cell phone identificationmemory, the number called and the digitized voice of the caller.Amplifier 1517 increases the power level of the RF signal to a magnitudesufficient to communicate with a nearby cell tower 1502. Amplifier 1517outputs the RF signal to an antenna coupler 1505 that directs the signalto antenna 1504. Antenna 1504 radiates the RF signal 1503 to a nearbycell tower 1502 which further directs the call data and voice to thedesired destination.

An RF signal is also radiated from the cell tower 1502 to the cell phoneantenna 1504. This RF signal is designated as a forward link signal.This forward link signal 1503 contains both control data forestablishing the call and subsequently contains digitized voice data andother data for maintaining the call. The antenna 1504 directs theforward link RF signal through the antenna coupler 1505 to the receivercircuits 1508. The receiver circuit 1508 detects/decodes the audiosignal and directs that signal to speaker 1509. During a routine,non-emergency call, the additional circuit components illustrated inFIG. 15 may remain inactive.

The cell phone with acoustic special signaling circuits may operate inthe following manner when the user is making an emergency phone call.

When making an emergency phone call, the cell phone may operate asdescribed previously for non-emergency calls except the additionalspecial signal circuit components may become active. The operation ofthe now active acoustic special signaling circuits is now described.When an emergency call is initiated by the user, the control logiccircuits 1511 may activate the special signal transmitter 1556 and thespecial signal receiver 1558. The special signal transmitter 1556 maygenerate an acoustic frequency signal that is modulated with the cellphone's identification data and an identification code that indicatesthat an emergency call is being made. The identification data memory1564 may send data to the data modulator 1566. The acoustic frequencysignal source 1565 generates an acoustic frequency signal and sends thatsignal to data modulator 1566. The data modulator 1566 combines theacoustic frequency signal and the data to produce a modulated acousticfrequency signal. The output of data modulator 1566 is input toamplifier 1567 which amplifies the modulated acoustic frequency signaland outputs the signal to the transducer coupler 1555. Transducercoupler 1555 directs the amplified acoustic frequency signal to acoustictransducer 1554 from which an acoustic signal is radiated via the signal1553 to a nearby acoustic signal monitoring device 1552 which receivesthe special acoustic signals 1553 from the cell phone acoustictransducer 1554.

The Acoustic signal monitoring device 1552 may be connected to a system1568 which monitors the status of connected devices. In the event anacoustic signal monitoring device senses an emergency call, the system1568 may indicate that incident and may automatically notify emergencyfirst responder personnel.

The monitoring device 1552 may also generate a forward link signal 1553that is sent to acoustic transducer 1554. This forward link signal maycontain location data, signal strength data and/or identification datapertaining to the acoustic signal monitoring device 1552. Acoustictransducer 1554 is connected to transducer coupler 1555 and may transferthe received forward link special acoustic frequency signal to thetransducer coupler 1555. Transducer coupler 1555 may in turn transferthe acoustic frequency signal to the special signal receiver 1558.Receiver 1558 may detect/decode the information on the forward linkspecial signal 1553 and may subsequently store that information inlocation data memory 1514. This location and/or identification datainformation from the acoustic signal monitoring device 1552 maysubsequently be transferred to the emergency call center over the cellphone reverse link signal 1503 and through the cell tower 1502.

The special signal forward and reverse links 1553 between the cell phoneand the special signal monitoring device 1552 may be acoustic frequencysignals or any combination of acoustic and RF special signals. Forexample the reverse link signal 1553 from the cell phone to the specialsignal monitoring device 1552 may be acoustic and the forward linksignal 1553 from the special signal monitoring device 1552 to the cellphone may be an RF signal, and vice versa.

Part 8: Notifying 911 Call Center and Fire Station Operating Concept

The operating concept of a signal monitoring device is explained in thefollowing example wherein it is installed in a fire alarm system. Thespecial 911 signal monitoring devices may be installed in an addressablefire alarm system thus permitting the location (e.g., exact location) ofeach 911 alarm within a building to be known to some degree (e.g.,accurately known).

The special fire alarm system Special 911 signal monitoring devices areconstructed to receive signals from personal hand-held wireless devicesmaking 911 calls. The personal hand-held wireless devices include: celltelephones, personal wireless smart phones, wireless equipped iPads,wireless Note-Pads and/or any other personal wireless communicatorsequipped to make 911, 112, or any other type of emergency or distresscall.

These personal wireless communicators, when making a 911 or otherdistress calls, may be equipped to emit special radio frequency signalsor acoustic signals or a combination of both which may allow the signalmonitoring device to be equipped with simple radio frequency andacoustic sound decoders. The acoustic waves may be either audible orultrasonic. The special signals emitted from the special personalwireless communicators may be in addition to the normal calling radiowave signals.

In addition to the preceding actions, the signal monitoring device thatdetects the 911 call may also send a special data signal to the cellphone or other wireless communicator indicating the location (e.g.,exact location) of the signal monitoring device. The cell phone may thenautomatically forward the location information to a 911 call center.

The personal wireless communicators may operate in a traditional mannerwhen making non-emergency calls between users. The fire alarm system mayalso operate in a traditional manner for detecting smoke and fire withina building facility. The connection of the special 911 signal monitoringdevices into the fire alarm system may not necessarily alter the normalfire detection and reporting features of the fire alarm system.

In the event of some emergency situation, a person may initiate anemergency telephone call from their personal wireless communicators. Thesituation may be either a fire related emergency or an emergency otherthan a fire emergency. The personal wireless communicators, in additionto performing the traditional calling process, may also emit a specialelectromagnetic and/or acoustic signal of sufficient strength that maybe detected by one or more nearby special 911 signal monitoring devices.The signal strength may be sufficient to activate one (e.g., only one inone embodiment) monitoring device located in the same area or room asthe caller. The signal strength may be sufficient to activate more thanone monitoring device located in the same area or room as the caller inanother embodiment.

The activated signal monitoring devices may subsequently signal the firealarm system control panel providing to the fire alarm control panelnotification of a 911 alarm and the room location. The fire alarm systemmay display the location of the alarm on the annunciation panel locatedat the building entrance. Any person who sees the location of thedistress call on the annunciation panel may respond alone or with othersto the location of the emergency.

The fire alarm control panel may subsequently relay the information tolocal emergency responders such as a fire department or a police stationor an urban central alarm monitoring facility. The emergency respondersor the central alarm monitoring personnel may respond to the 911 alarmfrom the fire alarm system. This may permit emergency responders toarrive at the emergency location as soon as possible.

A local 911 call center may also receive the 911 voice call and maydispatch first responders based on location information receivedverbally from the user and automatically from the user's wireless device(cell phone). The 911 call center may attempt to correlate the firealarm location information with the 911 caller location. In the eventthat a correlation between the fire alarm signal and the 911 call is notmade rapidly, the emergency responders may respond to both the 911 voicecaller's location and the fire alarm distress signal.

Part 9: Cell Phone Algorithm Flow Charts Flow Charts

Flow charts at FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 illustrate the preceding operatingconcept and provide additional details for the special signals.

The activity awaiting a cell phone call is shown as block 1601; block1602 is the decision of placing an emergency 911 call. If the decisionis made to place a non-emergency call, the activity may proceed to block1603. Block 1603 is the activity of completing a non-emergency callafter which the diagram returns to the condition represented by block1601.

If the decision is made to place an emergency call, the activity mayproceed to block 1604 and block 1606. Block 1604 represents atraditional phone voice connection with an emergency call center via acell tower network. Block 1605 represents the automatic transfer of GPSlocation data from the cell phone to the emergency call center.Meanwhile the block 1606 represents the cell phone, or other wirelessdevice establishing a connection with one or more special signaldetectors.

Block 1606 represents the activity illustrated in FIG. 17 . Referring toFIG. 17 , block 1701 represents the cell phone setting its specialsignal power to the lowest value. The cell phone then broadcasts aspecial signal indicating an emergency call and giving the cell phoneID; this activity is performed by block 1702. The data within thespecial signal is broadcast from the cell phone eight times, more orless, to ensure reception and to permit sufficient signal duration fordetectors to measure and record signal strength. In addition, thebroadcast may employ frequency diversity and error correction coding inorder to ensure that multipath fading is mitigated.

Block 1703 represents signal reception at detectors; each detector mayeither receive or not receive the special signals depending on theirdistance from the cell phone. If no detector receives the signal inblock 1703 then the process moves through block 1704 and block 1705 toTimer block 1706 and waits for the timer to attain a preset maximumvalue. The process then moves to block 1707 where the cell phoneincreases the special signal power in order to activate one or morespecial signal detectors. The cell phone then repeats block 1702 inwhich it re-broadcasts, with greater power, its special signalindicating an emergency call and giving the cell phone ID.

If one or more detectors receive the cell phone special signal as inblock 1703, then each of those detectors may perform the activity ofblock 1704, each detector may transmit its detector ID, detectorlocation, ID of cell phone that detector is responding to and detectorAGC data. Each detector may also send time-of-arrival data for thereceived signal. Signal quality metrics other than AGC data may be usedto measure signal strength at the detectors; bit error rate may be usedas a measure of signal quality. The data within the special signal thatis broadcast from the special signal detector may be repeated eighttimes, more or less, to ensure accurate reception. The data repetitionsmay be at random or pseudorandom intervals to prevent data collisionsfrom two or more detector signals in response to the same cell phone. Inaddition, the broadcast may employ frequency diversity and errorcorrection coding in order to ensure that multipath fading is mitigated.

If one or more detectors receive the cell phone special signal andrespond with a special signal from each detector as described above, thecell phone may receive the special signals from the detectors; thisreception activity is represented by activity block 1705. The cell phonemay then proceed to activity block 1708 wherein the cell phonecalculates the average value of the AGC data for each detector; signalquality metrics other than average AGC data may be used to measuresignal strength. The cell phone then selects the data for the detectorwith the greatest signal strength and stores its ID and location data inthe cell phone memory as represented by block 1709. In one embodiment,the AGC data and other metrics used for cell phone calculations arethose metrics established at each detector for a signal received from acell phone. In addition, the cell phone may also establish metrics forthe received signals from one or more detectors and subsequently performcalculations based upon those metrics. Of course, alternate processingschemes and signal metrics may be utilized to select the detector thatmay be closest to the cell phone and located on the same floor as thecell phone. It is noted that the closest detector may be located on afloor above or below the location of the wireless device. For thisreason, relying upon time-of-arrival information (or only upon atime-of-arrival information) for the location may result in an incorrectlocation. The cell phone may alternatively or additionally process theAGC data and/or the time-of-arrival data from one or more signalmonitoring devices to estimate the location of the cell phone withrespect to one or more of the signal monitoring devices and/or estimatethe location of the cell phone within the facility. This locationinformation may be stored in the memory of the cell phone.

Returning to FIG. 16 , the cell phone may send a special signaladdressed to the one detector whose ID was stored in the cell memoryblock 1709. The sending of that special signal to the detector isrepresented by block 1607. The detector may activate an alarm within thesystem to which it is connected as represented by block 1608. The alarmsystem may notify first responders and/or the E-911 call center asrepresented by block 1609.

The cell phone may also send data via the cell tower to the E-911 callcenter; that data may include the ID and/or location of the detectorwhose ID was stored in the cell memory by activity block 1709. The cellphone may also send location information that designates the cell phonelocation with respect to one or more of the signal monitoring devicesand/or designates the cell phone location within the facility withrespect to the structure of the facility. This cell phone datatransmission is activity block 1610. The completion of the cell phonevoice call to the E-911 cell center via the cell tower network isrepresented by block 1611.

Part 10: Mobile-Commerce Application for a Cell Phone with SpecialSignals

The application of special signal monitoring devices may be useful inmobile-commerce transactions, particularly transactions that requestdelivery of merchandise to the current location of a consumer with awireless device. Special signaling may provide a merchant with aconsumer's current location. Special signaling may also provide routeand guidance information for product delivery. Route and guidanceinformation may provide a method of guiding a delivery person through abuilding to the current location of a consumer within a building orfacility. Route and guidance information may be presented visually inthe form of a map and/or building floor plan with a linear path to thedestination location. Route and guidance information may also bepresented as a series of narrative or aural instructions. An example ofguidance may be: Proceed to Elevator 1, Go up to 3^(rd) floor, Turnright and walk forward to Room 305. The location for the consumer may bethe location established when making the transaction or the location maybe the updated current location of the consumer after making thetransaction. The preference may be designated by the consumer whenplacing the order or by the delivery person.

Mobile-Commerce Purchase Request Description:

Block Diagram at FIG. 19 illustrates a mobile-commerce operating conceptfor a cell phone or other personal wireless device and illustrates thevarious signals and components.

FIG. 19 illustrates a cell phone or other Wireless Communications Device1903 with access to cellular systems, Wifi and internet systems 1904,Bluetooth links and in addition having Special Signaling circuits foraccess to one or more Monitoring Devices 1906 via the Special Signals1917.

The user of a Wireless Communications Device 1903 may initiate cellular,Wifi or internet connections 1918, 1923 via the Communications System1904 to a commercial entity 1905 in order to purchase an item fordelivery to the user's location. The commercial entity 1905 may be awebsite for retail sales and delivery, a local retail merchant or anyother commercial sales and delivery entity. When making a call, theWireless Communications Device 1903 may additionally broadcast a specialsignal 1917 to one or more nearby Monitoring Devices 1906. This specialsignal may be described as a location request signal.

In response to receiving the location request special signals, the oneor more Monitoring Devices may subsequently send location information tothe Wireless Communications Device 1903. The exchange of special signalsfor the purpose of establishing location information is furtherdescribed in Part 2 through Part 9 of this narrative description. TheWireless Communications Device may then forward the location informationto the commercial entity_1905 over the Communications System 1904. TheMonitoring Device 1906 may also forward the location information 1920 tothe Monitoring Device's host Building System Processor 1907.

The host Building System Processor 1907 may further send the locationinformation 1921 to a local Visual Display 1909 to assist a deliveryperson in rapidly locating the Wireless Communications Device 1903. Thehost Building System Processor 1907 may further send the locationinformation 1922 via a Communication System 1908 to the same CommercialEntity_1905. The Communication System 1908 may be the same system asCommunication System 1904. The Host Building System Processor 1907 andCommunications System 1908 thus provide an alternate communications pathfor location information to reach a desired destination such as theCommercial Entity 1905.

Mobile-Commerce Guide Mode Operation

The following is a description of the signal monitoring devices andtheir host system processor providing mobile-commerce delivery personnelwith route and guidance information, through their wireless devices, tofacilitate rapidly finding the specific delivery destination. Thatlocation may be either the consumer's current location or the locationwithin the building from which the delivery order was initiated. FIG. 20, along with the following description, illustrate the interactionsamong the delivery person's wireless device 2001, the signal monitoringdevices 2004 and the host building system processor 2007. In oneembodiment the host system is a fire alarm system and the host systemprocessor is a fire alarm control panel that is equipped to perform thefunctions described herein.

The signal monitoring devices have been described as providing deliverylocation information to a merchant when a consumer is purchasing anitem. These signal monitoring devices may be additionally used to guidedelivery personnel to the delivery location within a building orfacility.

The signal monitoring devices 2004 operating in conjunction with thehost system processor 2007 may exchange special signals 2003 with adelivery person's wireless device 2001 upon entering and remainingwithin a building.

To assist the delivery personnel in reaching the specific deliverylocation within the building or facility, the signal monitoring devicesand host system processor may detect the presence of the deliveryperson's wireless device and receive device identification information.This may result in a further exchange of signals between the deliveryperson's wireless device and the nearby signal monitoring devices toestablish the signal monitoring device closest to the wireless deviceand thereby, in one embodiment, designate the location of the deliveryperson's wireless device. This procedure has been previously describedin detail wherein AGC and/or other signal data are used to select theclosest signal monitoring device. Other embodiments may be employed toestablish the location of the Wireless Device with respect to the signalmonitoring devices and/or with respect to the facility structure. Thedelivery person's wireless device may additionally send data 2003 to thesignal monitoring device 2004 and to the host system processor 2007indicating that the delivery person's wireless device is searching for aspecific delivery destination location and the sent data identifies thespecific location in the building that is the desired destination of thedelivery person. Once again, that location may be either the consumer'scurrent location or the location from which the delivery order wasinitiated within the building. This exchange of data signals constitutesa request for route and/or guidance information for the deliveryperson's wireless device to travel to the wireless device of theconsumer that requested the delivery.

One or more signal monitoring devices 2004 may forward the locationinformation 2003 from the delivery person's wireless device 2001 viasignal 2006 to the host system processor 2007 for use in creating aroute through the building from the present location of the deliveryperson's wireless device to the specific location of the consumer thatplaced the mobile-commerce order to be delivered.

The host system processor 2007 may create route and guidance informationfor the delivery person's wireless device to reach the desireddestination and may send that information to the delivery person'swireless device. This route and guidance information may be sent fromthe host system processor via the signal monitoring devices 2004 ordirectly via an auxiliary transceiver 2009 that is connected viaconnection 2008 to the host system processor 2007. The route andguidance information may also be conveyed to the delivery person aurallyvia voice instructions announced via loud speakers 2013 of a publicaddress system 2012 that is interfaced 2011 with the host systemprocessor 2007. The route and guidance information may also be conveyedvia Wifi signals 2016 to the delivery person's wireless device. The hostsystem processor may be connected to a Wifi system 2015 and send andreceive information via connection 2014. The route and guidanceinformation may also be sent to a local visual display 1909 illustratedat FIG. 19 .

The delivery person's wireless device 2001 may display the route andguidance information sent from the host system processor 2007. Thewireless device 2001 may present the information aurally and/orvisually. The visual presentation may be by either text or graphics. Anexample of a graphic presentation may be a floor plan with an indicationof the path from the delivery person's present location to the specificdelivery location requested by the consumer. Once again, that locationmay be either the consumer's current location or the location from whichthe delivery order was initially made within the building. It is thisspecific delivery location that the route and guidance information mayfacilitate the delivery person in rapidly finding.

Mobile-Commerce Tracking and Guidance Information Updates

If the building is a multistory building, the consumer's deliveryrequest may have originated on a floor above or below the presentlocation of the delivery person upon entering the building. In thissituation the processor 2007 may provide the delivery person with routeand guidance information for each of the various floors through whichthe delivery person travels to reach the final delivery destination. Formultistory buildings, the route and guidance information may beautomatically updated by the host system processor 2007 and transmittedto the delivery person's wireless device 2001 as the delivery persontravels toward the destination. This is possible since the host systemprocessor 2007 may repeatedly receive location data for the deliveryperson's wireless device 2001; this data may be repeatedly provided bysignal monitoring devices 2004 along the route of the delivery person'swireless device 2001 moving toward the destination. The host systemprocessor 2007 may track the delivery person's wireless device 2001 byrepeatedly reestablishing the location of that wireless device via anexchange of special signals 2003 as previously described for the methodof locating cell phones with special signals in conjunction with signalmonitoring devices.

The route and guidance information may be sent to the delivery person'swireless device 2001 via transmitted special signals 2003 from one ormore signal monitoring devices 2004 or directly 2010 via an auxiliarytransceiver 2009, that is connected 2008 to the host system processor2007. The route and guidance information may also be conveyed via Wifisignals 2016 if the wireless device 2001 is so equipped to receive. Wifisystem 2015 may be interconnected 2014 with the host system processor2007. The route and guidance information may also be conveyed to thedelivery person aurally via voice instructions announced via a publicaddress system 2012, with loud speaker 2013, that is interfaced 2011with the host system processor 2007. The route and guidance informationmay also be sent to a local visual display 1909 illustrated in FIG. 19 .

In some circumstances, the consumer that ordered the merchandise fordelivery and their wireless device may move away from their initiallocation. When this occurs, the host system processor in conjunctionwith the signal monitoring devices may track the location of theconsumer person with their wireless device. The host system processormay track a wireless device by repeatedly reestablishing the location ofthe device via an exchange of special signals as previously describedfor the method of locating cell phones with special signals inconjunction with signal monitoring devices. Under these circumstancesthe host system processor may recalculate and revise the route andguidance information and send that revised information to the deliveryperson's wireless device.

The special signal circuits within the consumer's wireless devices wouldremain active until reset. The reset of the special signals may takeplace as a result of one or more of the following events. The reset maybe accomplished manually by the user or may be accomplishedautomatically based on a timer within the building system processor2007; the reset may be accomplished automatically based on a timerwithin the consumer's wireless devices; the reset may be accomplished bythe building system processor 2007 when the delivery person's locationis nearby or collocated with the location of the consumer placing theretail delivery order and their wireless device.

Part 11: Handheld Radio Operations Application of Special SignalMonitoring Devices to Hand Held Radios

The foregoing narrative has described the use of an electronic deviceunit for detection of emergency calls initiated from cell phones andfrom other personal wireless communications hand held units wherein theelectronic device units for detection of emergency calls is installedand integrated as a component detector of a fire alarm system, intrusionalarm system, surveillance system, access control system, SupervisoryControl and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, computer network system,internet access system, telephone system and/or any other building andfacility monitoring and data systems. The narrative has also describedcell phones and other personal wireless communications hand held unitsequipped to send and receive special signals that interact with theelectronic device units for detection of emergency calls.

The application of the electronic device units for detection ofemergency calls may be expanded to include determining location ofhandheld radios used by emergency responders such as police officers,fire fighters, emergency medical personnel, military National Guardpersonnel, Homeland Security coordinators, FBI personnel and otheremergency personnel. The electronic device units for detection ofemergency calls may also be referred to as special signal monitoringdevices.

Handheld radio systems may include more sophisticated trunked radiosystems or simple manually selectable multi-channel radios. In eithercase, the channel/frequency selections available to a user are limitedin order to provide communications with a select group of personsnormally within the user's parent organization.

As with the cell phones described in the foregoing narrative, thehandheld radios may also be equipped with special signal circuits thatsend and receive RF and/or acoustic special signals to and from localspecial signal monitoring devices that are connected to a host system.

The special signals exchanged with the special signal monitoring devicemay include radio identification designation, organization affiliation,“Talk Group” affiliation, signal monitoring device identificationdesignation, location information, AGC value, signal strength value,signal quality, data errors and other data.

There may be one or more differences in the exchange of special signalsfrom handheld radios compared with cell phones. One difference is that aradio may not automatically initiate an alarm through a special signalmonitoring device. Another difference is that the data exchange viaspecial signals between the radios and the special signal monitoringdevices may be intermittent, continuous or periodic and may commencewhen the radios are within signaling distance of the special signalmonitoring devices. This feature permits the special signal monitoringdevices to continuously monitor one or more radios within signalingdistance.

The special signals sent from the special signal monitoring devices andreceived at radios (e.g., each radio) may include the identification andlocation information not only for the receiving radio, but additionallyfor one or more other radios active within the host systems network.These other radios may include those from parent organizations (e.g.,all parent organizations) in addition to those of a particular user'sparent organization. Each radio may be equipped to display theinformation associated with the other various radios active within thehost system's signaling distance.

Each radio user may desire to call a nearby user from a specificorganization and/or may desire to call one or more of the closest(nearby) radios. The former may be desired if a specific skill isdesired and the latter may be desired if the user is in distress andimmediate help is desired.

What has been described up to this point is the signaling that isexchanged between two or more handheld radios and one or more specialsignal monitoring devices. This information may permit radio users toknow their current location within a facility (e.g., at all times). Thisinformation may also permit each radio user to be aware of the presenceof other nearby radio users, their parent organization and theirlocation information.

In order to ensure that voice communications is possible between radiosfrom disparate organizations, a means for verbal communications must(and/or may) be provided.

If the radios (e.g., all radios in one embodiment) are affiliated withthe same trunked radio system, then interoperable voice communicationsmay be feasible (or at least easier). Alternatively, if the radios arefrom disparate trunked radio systems that use differing technologies, analternate scheme may be provided that permits voice communicationsbetween the disparate radios.

FIG. 18 illustrates four special signal monitoring devices 1801 withinterconnecting cables 1802 located within a facility 1805 and, in oneembodiment, connected to a host system controller 1803 such as a firealarm system controller. Within and adjacent the facility are alsoillustrated three hand held radios 1806 and 1810. Special signals 1807that convey identification information are transmitted from each radioand are received by one or more special signal monitoring devices. Thespecial signal monitoring devices may each respond by transmittingspecial signals back to the radios. These special signals to each radiomay generally convey different information that is specific to eachradio. These special signals are illustrated as 1807. The specialsignals transmitted by each special signal monitoring device andreceived by one or more radios may convey location information, signalmonitor device identification, signal strength values, radioidentification for the receiving radios and radio identification for oneor more other nearby radios emanating special signals to the specialsignal monitoring devices and parent organization for each radioidentified. Each special signal monitoring device may respond to one ormore radios but not necessarily all radios within the host system.

FIG. 18 also includes a host system controller 1803 and an annunciationpanel 1804 that may be a component of the host system. This annunciationpanel may normally be equipped to display graphic and text informationfor alarms from special signal monitoring devices. A radio user may ormay not elect to initiate an alarm through a nearby special signalmonitoring device with which the radio has exchanged special signalinformation.

FIG. 18 also illustrates signals 1809 and 1812 for voice transmissionsto and from each radio to antenna towers 1808 and 1811. These antennatowers 1808 and 1811 and radios 1806 and 1810 may belong to the sametrunked radio system. The radios 1806 and 1810 communicate via thetowers 1808 and 1811. The three radios may be assigned to the same “TalkGroup” in which they can converse with each other via the towers 1808and 1811. If, however, the radios are assigned to different parentorganizations and thus to different “Talk Groups,” they may not be ableto communicate under normal circumstances. In one embodiment,reassigning the radios to a common “Talk Group” may permit the radios tocommunicate. (In a different embodiment, permitting the radios tocommunicate may be accomplished by another method than reassigning.)

If antenna tower 1808 and radios 1806 belong to one trunked radio systemand tower 1811 and radio 1810 belongs to a second disparate trunkedradio system, the radios 1806 and 1810 may not be assigned to the same“Talk Group” and thus may not be capable of communicating with eachother.

Both of the preceding difficulties may be overcome if the radios ofdiffering parent organizations are equipped with circuits that provide acommon “Talk Group” in both situations: first in the situation whereradios (e.g., all radios) are on a common trunked radio system and asecond in the situation where one or more radios are on differingtrunked radio systems. The common “Talk Group” in these situations mayinclude a non-trunked, simple half-duplex, line-of-sight radio channelwith or without the benefit of a repeater tower.

In the preceding two situations the common “Talk Group” communicationsfeature may be enabled by signals emanating from a special signalmonitoring device that is common to two or more radios. A special signalmonitoring device is common to two or more radios if the monitoringdevice is within a distance that permits exchange of special signalswith the radios.

Aside from facilitating voice communications via a common “Talk Group,”the use of handheld radios equipped with special signaling and abuilding system equipped with special signal monitoring devices mayprovide each radio user with that user's present location. This locationinformation may be updated periodically or continuously. Each handheldradio may visually display the location information, provide an auralannouncement of the location information and/or automatically forwardthe location information via signals to another radio and/or to a parentorganization monitoring equipment.

Handheld Radio Guide Mode Operation

The signal monitoring devices and their host system processor mayprovide emergency personnel with route and guidance information, throughtheir portable radios, to assist emergency personnel in rapidly findingand assisting a 911 caller within a building. The signal monitoringdevices may be used in emergency situations wherein a cell phone userhas made a 911 call and emergency personnel with portable radios are enroute to assist that person. The signal monitoring devices mayfacilitate the emergency personnel in rapidly arriving at the caller'slocation within the building.

The signal monitoring devices operating in conjunction with the hostsystem processor may exchange special signals with emergency portableradios that are equipped with special signaling when the radios enterand remain within a building and the emergency personnel are searchingfor the cell phone location designated by the 911 call. This route andguidance feature for Handheld Radios may be implemented following thesame approach described for mobile-commerce delivery procedures in Part10 of this description. This route and guidance feature for portableradios may be implemented in a manner such that the 911 caller'swireless device functions in the same manner as the m-commerceconsumer's wireless communications device in establishing a routedestination and wherein the emergency responder's portable radiofunctions in the same manner as the delivery person's wireless device inrequesting or creating route and guidance information.

Part 12: Host System Control Panel

The host system control panel, also described as the host systemprocessor, is the central controller for a monitoring system. The hostsystem described herein contains a central processor, data memory,monitoring device network, network wiring, public address systeminterface, Wifi system interface, auxiliary transceiver, a visualdisplay with user keypad and a communications link to a central alarmmonitoring facility. It is recognized that there may be embodiments thatdo not contain all of these components and/or may contain additionalcomponents. The host system processor monitors the status of theplurality of monitoring devices connected to the network. This istraditionally accomplished in systems such as fire alarm systems usingtwo-conductor ring networks with copper conductors, however the networksmay alternatively be wireless. The data signals for individual devicesmay be encoded and/or multiplexed in various ways. This may beaccomplished in a manner that allows each monitoring device to beidentified and the data signal to travel over the network without datacollisions and errors. The networks to which the monitoring devices areconnected may be a ring network, a star network, it may be wired, or itmay be wireless or some combination of these. It is recognized thatother networks may be used. Although the Host System Control Panel isdescribed herein as a single central unit, it is also possible for thereto be multiple processors and/or multiple controllers in a distributedprocessing scheme.

Host System Control Panel “Talk Group” Tracking

FIG. 18 illustrates four special signal monitoring devices 1801 withinterconnecting cables 1802 located within a facility 1805 and connectedto a host system controller 1803 such as a fire alarm system controller.Within and adjacent the facility are also illustrated three hand heldradios 1806 and 1810. Special signals 1807 that convey identificationinformation, e.g. “Talk Group” affiliation, are transmitted from eachradio and are received by one or more special signal monitoring devices.Part 11 described the operation of portable radios and the use of “TalkGroup” affiliation. The use of handheld radios equipped with specialsignaling and a building system equipped with special signal monitoringdevices connected to a host system controller may provide each radiouser with that user's present location. This location information may beupdated periodically or continuously. The host system controller mayalso automatically forward the location information of one or moreradios within a “Talk Group” via signals to another radio within the“Talk Group” and/or to a parent organization monitoring equipment.

Host System Control Panel Connectivity

The host system processor 2007, illustrated at FIG. 20 , includesconnections with an RF transceiver 2009, a public address system 2012, aWifi system 2015 and a plurality of signal monitoring devices 2004.

The same host system processor 1907, illustrated at FIG. 19 , includesconnections with a visual display 1909, a communication system 1908 anda plurality of signal monitoring devices 1906. A host system may includeany combination or all of the connected devices and equipmentillustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20 .

The tasks performed by the host system processor with respect to thesignal monitoring devices may include actively interrogating each of thesignal monitoring devices periodically for the current alarm status ofeach monitoring device and/or may include accepting interrupt data fromthe signal monitoring devices. A host system processor may interfacewith a visual display 1909 located near the main entrance of a buildingfor viewing by emergency personnel. The status of the plurality ofmonitoring devices may be displayed on the visual display 1909 and mayadditionally be sent via communications system 1908 to an off-sitecentral alarm monitoring facility.

In embodiments in which the signal monitoring devices feature bothforward and reverse link signaling to a cell phone, radio or otherwireless device, the host processor may exercise two way datacommunications with the cell phone, wireless device or radio users viaone or more signal monitoring devices 2004, or via Wifi 2015 signals orvia an auxiliary transceiver 2009. A public address system 2012 may alsobe used to give aural information or instructions to a wireless deviceor radio user. The information exchanged may include wireless deviceidentification, radio identification and signal monitoring deviceidentification, signal quality data, location data and/or route andguidance data. Furthermore, since the same host system processor 1907,illustrated at FIG. 19 , includes connections with the communicationssystem 1908 and a plurality of signal monitoring devices 1906 and sincethe signal monitoring devices may have both forward and reverse linkswith a wireless device 1903, the host system processor may provideconnectivity between a wireless device 1903 within the building and thecommunications system 1908. The communications system may include acellular system and/or an internet system.

Host System Control Panel Location and Navigation Services

In embodiments previously described, the location of a cell phone,wireless device or radio user may be established wherein one or moresignal monitoring devices report data (to the cell phone, wirelessdevice or radio) indicating the signal quality (AGC, etc.) for thereceived location request, alarm or alert special signal broadcast bythe user's device. The cell phone, wireless device or radio would thenprocess that data and select the monitoring device that reported thebest received signal quality. The location of that selected monitoringdevice would (in one embodiment) be adopted as the location of the cellphone, wireless device or radio user.

In another embodiment, the host system processor may calculate awireless device or radio user's location using signal quality datareceived by one or more signal monitoring devices in embodiments inwhich that information is forwarded to the processor by the monitoringdevices. The calculated location information may be sent by the hostsystem processor back to the corresponding wireless device or radio.

The host system processor may create route and guidance information fora cell phone, wireless device or radio user (second user) that desiresto navigate to a destination within the building. The processor would beequipped with navigation software, provided with continuously updatedsecond user location information from the signal monitoring devices andalso provided with the destination location as well. The destinationlocation may be provided by a first user's wireless device when making amobile commerce order or be provided by a 911 caller's location that wasestablished when a 911 call was placed. In addition, the processor wouldhave architectural plan information and the location of signalmonitoring devices (e.g., all the signal monitoring devices in oneembodiment) (e.g., that would provide waypoints) relative to thearchitectural plans.

FIG. 21 illustrates a typical route superimposed on a typicalarchitectural plan. Other architectural plans and routes having adiffering destination location and waypoint locations within the planare possible. The plan illustrates monitoring device locations aswaypoints indicated by triangles (typical of 2101) and connecting lines(typical of 2102) that are route segments. Also shown are the buildingentrance 2103, elevator 2104 and stairwell 2105. A sequence of connectedroute segments from a present location 2106 of a second user's wirelessdevice to a destination location 2107 may constitute a complete routeillustrated by the sequence of heavy lines. For a multistory buildingwherein the destination location is on a floor above or below the entrydoors, the processor may provide a route segment to the elevator 2104 orstairwell 2105 and may additionally create and provide the route andguidance data for the additional floor using the architectural plan dataand waypoint data for that floor.

The host system processor may create route and guidance information forany combination of present locations and destinations.

In lieu of the host system processor calculating route and guidanceinformation, a second user's cell phone, wireless device or radioprocessor may create route and guidance information for the second userto navigate to a destination within the building. The second user's cellphone, wireless device or radio processor would be equipped withnavigation software which may reside internal to the device or be cloudbased. The cell phone, wireless device or radio would be provided withcontinuously updated location information from the signal monitoringdevices and also provided with the destination location as well. Thedestination location may be provided by a first user's wireless devicewhen making a mobile commerce order or be provided by a 911 caller'slocation that was established when a 911 call was placed. Thisdestination location data may reside in the host system processor andmay be sent from the host processor to the second user's cell phone,wireless device or radio that requests, receives, and/or requires thedestination data. In addition the second user's cell phone, wirelessdevice or radio processor would have architectural plan information andthe location of signal monitoring devices (that would provide waypoints)relative to the architectural plans. This architectural and waypointdata (and also the navigation software) may be resident in the seconduser's cell phone, wireless device or radio or may be downloaded to thesecond user's cell phone, wireless device or radio. The second user'scell phone, wireless device or radio processor may create a route forany combination of present locations and destinations. In anotherembodiment, a processor other than that of the host system and thesecond user's cell phone, wireless device or radio may host thenavigation software, architectural information, waypoint data,destination location data and second user's wireless device location andthereby create the route and guidance information and send thatinformation to the second user's cell phone, wireless device or radio.This embodiment may include cloud based applications.

Part 13: Computing Embodiments Computing Modules

Devices described above (e.g., cell phones, portable radios, wirelessmedical devices, signal monitoring devices, cell towers, SCADA systemcomponents, fire alarm system components, computers, processors,systems, host systems) may include a computing module in addition to oras an alternative to the hardware described above. FIG. 13 is a blockdiagram of exemplary components of a computing module 1300. Computingmodule 1300 may include a bus 1310, processing logic 1320, an inputdevice 1330, an output device 1340, a communication interface 1350, anda memory 1360. Computing module 1300 may include other components (notshown) that aid in receiving, transmitting, and/or processing data.Moreover, other configurations of components in computing module 1300are possible.

Bus 1310 may include a path that permits communication among thecomponents of computing module 1300. Processing logic 1320 may includeany type of processor or microprocessor (or families of processors ormicroprocessors) that interprets and executes instructions. In otherembodiments, processing logic 1320 may include an application-specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

Communication interface 1350 may include a transceiver that enablescomputing module 1300 to communicate with other devices or systems.Communication interface 1350 may include a transmitter that convertsbaseband signals to radio frequency (RF) signals and/or a receiver thatconverts RF signals to baseband signals. Communication interface 1350may be coupled to one or more antennas for transmitting and receiving RFsignals. Communication interface 1350 may include phase shifters or timedelays for modulating received and/or transmitted signals.Communications interface 1350 may include an acoustic and/or ultrasonictransmitter and/or receiver for communicating with other devices.Communication interface 1350 may include a network interface card, e.g.,Ethernet card, for wired communications or a wireless network interface(e.g., a WiFi) card for wireless communications. Communication interface1350 may also include, for example, a universal serial bus (USB) portfor communications over a cable, a Bluetooth wireless interface, aradio-frequency identification (RFID) interface, a near-fieldcommunications (NFC) wireless interface, etc.

Memory 1360 may store, among other things, information and instructions(e.g., applications and an operating system) and data (e.g., applicationdata) for use by processing logic 1320. Memory 1360 may include a randomaccess memory (RAM) or another type of dynamic storage device, aread-only memory (ROM) device or another type of static storage device(e.g., non-transient), and/or some other type of magnetic or opticalrecording medium and its corresponding drive (e.g., a hard disk drive).

The operating system may include software instructions for managinghardware and software resources of computing module 1300. For example,the operating system may include GNU/Linux, Windows, OS X, Android, anembedded operating system, etc. The applications and application datamay provide network services or include applications, depending on thedevice in which the particular computing module 1300 is found.

Input device 1330 may allow a user to input information into computingmodule 1300. Input device 1330 may include a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, amicrophone, an audio capture device, an image and/or video capturedevice, a touch-screen display, etc. Some devices, such as the nodes,may be autonomous, may be managed remotely, and may not include inputdevice 1330. In other words, some devices may be “headless” and may notinclude a keyboard, for example.

Output device 1340 may output information to the user. Output device1340 may include a display, a printer, a speaker, etc. As anotherexample, the nodes may include light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Headlessdevices, such as one or more of the nodes, may be autonomous, may bemanaged remotely, and may not include output device 1340.

Input device 1330 and output device 340 may allow a user to activate andinteract with a particular service or application. Input device 1330 andoutput device 1340 may allow a user to receive and view a menu ofoptions and select from the menu options. The menu may allow the user toselect various functions or services associated with applicationsexecuted by computing module 1300.

Computing module 1300 may perform the operations described herein inresponse to processing logic 1320 executing software instructionscontained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory 1360. Acomputer-readable medium may include a physical or logical memorydevice. The software instructions may be read into memory 1360 fromanother computer-readable medium or from another device viacommunication interface 1350. The software instructions contained inmemory 1360 may cause processing logic 1320 to perform processes thatare described herein.

Part 14: Embodiments

One or more embodiments are listed below. Other embodiments are alsodescribed above. The embodiments listed below may employ the computingmodule described above.

Embodiments for Route and Guidance

A system comprising: a first wireless communications device, a secondwireless communications device, a host system, wherein the host systemcomprises a host system processor, the system further comprising aplurality of monitoring circuits, wherein the plurality of monitoringcircuits are located at known locations throughout a building interior,wherein each monitoring circuit is connected to the host system and isconfigured to receive a location request signal transmitted from thefirst wireless communication device when engaging in communications withanother party, and is further configured to communicate with the hostsystem processor, wherein the location request signal is initiated to atleast one of the plurality of monitoring circuits; wherein the hostsystem processor creates route or guidance information and comprisesmeans for sending the route or guidance information to the secondwireless device, and wherein the second wireless device is in additionto the first wireless communications device. The route or guidanceinformation is established for the present location of the secondwireless communications device and an initial or reestablished locationof the first wireless communications device.

A host system processor: wherein the host system processor is acomponent of a host building system within a building, wherein the hostsystem processor is configured to communicate with a plurality ofmonitoring circuits, and wherein the plurality of monitoring circuitsare located at known locations throughout the building interior, a firstwireless communications device and a second wireless communicationsdevices, wherein the first and second wireless communication devices arewithin the building, wherein the host system processor comprises meansto communicate with the first and the second wireless communicationdevice, wherein the second wireless communication device requests routeor guidance information to travel to the location of the first wirelesscommunications device, and wherein the host system processor createsroute or guidance information and comprises means for sending the routeor guidance information to the second wireless communication device.

A wireless communications device comprising, a transceiver configuredto: communicate with other wireless devices in a wireless system via avoice channel, transmit a location request signal to one or more of aplurality of monitoring circuits, wherein the plurality of monitoringcircuits are located at known locations throughout the interior of abuilding and are connected to a host system processor, wherein thewireless system includes a system antenna tower external to thebuilding, and wherein the location request signal is distinct andseparate from signals transmitted from the wireless communicationsdevice to the system antenna tower, and receive information wherein theinformation is either destination location information or waypointinformation or both that are sent by the host system processor to thewireless communications device, and wherein, the wireless communicationsdevice creates route or guidance information based upon the receivedinformation, and wherein creating route or guidance information mayinclude using a cloud based processor, using a cloud based navigationapplication or using other cloud based resources.

Embodiments for Wireless Communications Device Connectivity

One or more wireless communication devices may comprise a transceiverthat is equipped to communicate with monitoring circuits that areconnected to a host system processor wherein the host system processoris connected to a communications system. Thereby the one or morewireless communications devices may communicate with the communicationssystem through the monitoring circuits and the host system processor,wherein the communications system comprises an internet system, acellular phone system or a Wifi system.

A monitoring circuit to augment existing fire/smoke detectors byproviding connectivity to the internet for the purpose ofcommunications, location and navigation.

A monitoring circuit equipped with bi-directional communication with theinternet through a host building system that is connected to theinternet.

A monitoring circuit equipped to communicate with cell phones,Smartphones, portable radios, computers, tablets, medical devices,Smartwatches, and other compatible wireless communication devices.

A monitoring circuit equipped to function as an on or off ramp to theinternet by connecting through a host building system comprising a wiredor wireless network, a central control panel, a host system processor, arouter, or other communications devices.

A monitoring circuit configured to provide location and navigationinformation for portable radio applications, m-commerce applications andremote medical monitoring applications.

A monitoring circuit configured to provide internet connectivity,wherein the internet connectivity may enable gaming, entertainment,and/or metaverse applications.

Part 15: General

What has been described herein includes examples of the disclosed systemand embodiments. It is not possible to describe every conceivablecombination of components and/or methods. Accordingly, the system andmethods herein is intended to include all such alterations andcombinations that are within the scope and spirit of the description andof the claims.

In addition the use of nouns and noun phrases to describe variouscomponents and actions may vary without any specific intent throughoutthe descriptions as they would likewise vary in ordinary conversation.Such variations should not be viewed as an opportunity to circumvent theintent herein to communicate the features and benefits of the methodsand systems so disclosed.

Reference to handheld radios include all types or any type of portableand mobile radios used by emergency persons such as firefighters,police, medical personnel, and used by delivery persons, maintenanceworkers and other non-emergency workers. Radios disclosed herein havespecial signaling capability. The term “mobile radio” may replace theterm “handheld radio” as used herein and vice versa. The term “portableradio” and/or “mobile radio” may replace the term “handheld radio” asused herein and vice versa.

The noun phrase, “electronic device units for detection of emergencycalls,” may also be referred to as electronic device unit for specialsignal detection, special signal monitoring devices, signal monitoringdevices, monitoring devices, monitoring circuits, special signaldetectors or simply as detectors.

The noun phrases “cell phone,” “personal wireless device” and “wirelessdevice” are intended to refer to devices that may operate within a cellphone system and/or wireless network. In many cases these devices areassumed to have Wifi and Bluetooth capabilities. For the purposes ofthis disclosure, they are also assumed to have special signalingcapability.

References to cellular network towers and/or cell towers is a generalreference to a local cellular network receiving and transmittingequipment whether installed on a tower or otherwise installed in alocation that does not necessarily include a tower or a tower likestructure.

References to software within a wireless device or a system processormay include firmware algorithms and routines, hardware algorithms androutines, software applications, cloud based applications or otheralgorithms and routines.

The noun phrases “host system control panel,” “host system controller”and “host system processor” have been used interchangeably to refer tothe processing and control element of a host system.

In the claims and description, the term “each” does not necessarily mean“all.” For example, if a system includes a plurality of antennas (e.g.,at least two antennas), wherein each antenna includes a horn antenna,this means that each of the previously-referenced plurality of antennas(e.g., at least two antennas) include a horn antenna and not that eachantenna in the system includes a horn antenna.

1. A system comprising: a first wireless communications device; a secondwireless communications device; a host system, wherein the host systemcomprises a host system processor; and a plurality of monitoringcircuits, wherein the plurality of monitoring circuits are located atknown locations throughout a building interior, wherein each monitoringcircuit is connected to the host system and is configured to receive alocation request signal transmitted from the first wirelesscommunication device when engaging in communications with another party,and is further configured to communicate with the host system processor,wherein the location request signal is initiated to at least one of theplurality of monitoring circuits, wherein the host system processorcreates route or guidance information and comprises a transceiver tosend the route or guidance information to the second wireless device,and wherein the second wireless device is in addition to the firstwireless communications device.
 2. The system of claim 1 furthercomprising, a plurality of data modems, wherein each data modem isassociated with a corresponding monitoring circuit, and wherein, inresponse to the corresponding monitoring circuit receiving the locationrequest signal, each data modem is configured to send a data signalindicative of the location of the respective monitoring circuit to thehost system processor.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the route orguidance information is established for the present location of thesecond wireless communications device and an initial or reestablishedlocation of the first wireless communications device.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, wherein, the host system is a fire alarm system, a SupervisoryControl and Data Acquisition (SCADA), internet access system, accesscontrol system, or other building monitoring system.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the transceiver is associated with a monitoringcircuit, an auxiliary transceiver, or a Wifi system.
 6. The firstwireless communication device of claim 1, wherein the first wirelesscommunication device comprises a processor, and wherein the processor isconfigured to select one of the plurality of monitoring circuits foradditional communications based upon a criteria for the transmittedlocation request signal.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising: aplurality of transceivers, wherein each transceiver is associated with acorresponding monitoring circuit, and wherein, in response to thecorresponding monitoring circuit receiving the location request signalfrom the first wireless communications device, each transceiver isconfigured to send a data signal to the first wireless communicationsdevice for the first wireless communications device to select one of theplurality of monitoring circuits for additional communications.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of data modems,wherein the plurality of data modems communicate with a host systemprocessor; wherein each data modem is associated with a correspondingmonitoring circuit, and wherein, in response to the correspondingmonitoring circuit being selected by the first wireless communicationsdevice for additional communications, each data modem is configured tosend data indicative of the location of the respective monitoringcircuit or data indicative of the location of the first wirelesscommunications device to the host system processor.
 9. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the host system processor is connected to acommunication system, wherein the first wireless communications devicecommunicates with the communication system through the host systemprocessor, and wherein the communication system comprises an internetsystem, a cellular phone system or a Wifi system.
 10. A host systemprocessor: wherein the host system processor is a component of a hostbuilding system within a building, wherein the host system processor isconfigured to communicate with a plurality of monitoring circuits, andwherein the plurality of monitoring circuits are located at knownlocations throughout the building interior, a first wirelesscommunications device; and a second wireless communications device,wherein the first and second wireless communication devices are withinthe building, wherein the host system processor comprises means tocommunicate with the first and the second wireless communicationdevices, wherein the second wireless communication device requests routeor guidance information to travel to the location of the first wirelesscommunications device, and wherein the host system processor createsroute or guidance information and comprises means for sending the routeor guidance information to a user of the second wireless communicationdevice.
 11. The host system processor of claim 10, wherein, eachmonitoring circuit comprises a modem that is connected to the hostsystem processor and each modem is configured to communicate with thehost system processor.
 12. The host system processor of claim 10,wherein the means for sending comprises being transmitted by one or moremonitoring circuits, being transmitted by an auxiliary transceiver,being transmitted by a Wifi system, being displayed on a visual display,or being announced by a loudspeaker.
 13. The host system processor ofclaim 10, wherein the route or guidance information is established forthe present location of the second wireless communications device and aninitial or reestablished location of the first wireless communicationsdevice,
 14. The host system processor of claim 10, wherein the secondwireless communication device is a portable radio in a trunked radiosystem,
 15. The host system processor of claim 10, wherein the hostsystem processor is connected to a communication system, wherein thefirst wireless communications device or second wireless communicationsdevice communicates with the communication system through the hostsystem processor and wherein the communication system comprises aninternet system, a cellular phone system or a Wifi system.
 16. Awireless communications device comprising, a transceiver configured to:communicate with other wireless devices in a wireless system via a voicechannel, transmit a location request signal to one or more of aplurality of monitoring circuits, wherein the plurality of monitoringcircuits are located at known locations throughout the interior of abuilding and are connected to a host system processor, wherein thewireless system includes a system antenna tower external to thebuilding, and wherein the location request signal is distinct andseparate from signals transmitted from the wireless communicationsdevice to the system antenna tower, and receive information wherein theinformation is either destination location information or waypointinformation or both that are sent by the host system processor to thewireless communications device, wherein, the wireless communicationsdevice creates route or guidance information based upon the receivedinformation.
 17. The wireless communications device of claim 16, whereinthe wireless communications device is a portable radio in a trunkedradio system.
 18. The wireless communications device of claim 16,wherein the wireless communications device comprises means tocommunicate with the host system processor, wherein the host systemprocessor is connected to a communication system, wherein the wirelesscommunications device communicates with the communication system throughthe host system processor, and wherein the communication systemcomprises an internet system, a cellular phone system or a Wifi system.19. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein the meansfor receiving the destination location or waypoint information from thehost system processor comprises means for receiving from one or moremonitoring circuits, means for receiving from an auxiliary transmitter,or means for receiving from a Wifi system.
 20. The wirelesscommunications device of claim 16, wherein the destination location isthe location of a separate and distinct wireless communications device.21. The wireless communications device of claim 16, wherein creatingroute or guidance information includes using a cloud based processor,using a cloud based navigation application or using other cloud basedresources.